Joan Ulmer Scholarship for Early Education
This is the application for the Joan Ulmer Scholarship for early Childhood Education. This award is available to current high school seniors attending USD 422 Kiowa County High School (Kansas) or former graduates from USD 422. Deadline March 29th, 2024!
Complete Guidelines:
- Must be a graduating senior or graduate of Kiowa County High School.
- Must report high school GPA and upload transcript.
- Must intend to pursue full-time studies toward a four-year degree at an accredited college or university.
- Must intend to major in elementary education (K-6).
Questions or issues with the application? Contact SCCF at (620) 672.7929 or holly@sccfks.org.
About Joan:
Joan Ulmer was born on July 15, 1930, in Patridge, Kansas to Frank C. and Edna B. (Waddle) Schardein.
She grew up on a farm with her two brothers, Bill and Bud. Always enjoying school, Joan graduated in 1948 from Patridge High School and in 1950 from Emporia State Teachers College.
After College, she returned home to begin her teaching career in a one room rural schoolhouse west of Hutchinson, Kansas in Reno County. In 1952, she married Harvey Ulmer Jr. and in 1957 they moved to Greensburg, Kansas, where she took a grade school teaching position at Wellsford, Kansas.
Her love for teaching children was not just limited to the schoolhouse as she also taught children’s Sunday school, vacation Bible school and sponsored youth groups at the First Christian Church in Greensburg. Also known as the “library lady” she read books to hundreds of children at the Greensburg Public Library. Involvement with Kiowa County 4-H was just another way she helped the youth of Kiowa County. All in all, Joan taught and touched the lives of three generations of Kiowa County children. Joan’s Pre-School, which she taught at the farm north of Greensburg, was such a time of learning and nurturing that many grown adults today still remember that special time in their life.