William C. Kralik
William C. Kralik graduated from Shippensburg University with the Class of 1970 having majored in Elementary Education. While at Shippensburg University, Bill was very active in Acacia, a social fraternity. After graduating from SU, Bill started his teaching career at the Jim Thorpe Area School District in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. He taught 5th and 6th grade science and health classes. At that time he was the only other male at the K-6 level in the school district besides the principal and the custodians.
Bill had a great interest in the emerging world of computers. In 1980 he took his first basic programming class at the Penn State Hazelton campus. The following summer Bill took courses pertaining to the use of microcomputers in education at the Penn State main campus. After those courses, Bill incorporated what he learned about computers into Math, Science, and Social Studies in his 5th and 6th grade classroom. He supplemented his computer studies with numerous courses at Wilkes University, DeSales University, and the Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit. In 1985 Bill was offered, and accepted, the opportunity to become the first Computer Coordinator for the Jim Thorpe Area School District and held that position until he retired in January 2004. During retirement, Bill enjoyed attending Penn State football games and traveling around the United States and Canada in his motor home. Dr. Kralik passed away on February 9, 2021.
Bill was the first on the paternal side and third on the maternal side of his family to go to college. He was a recipient of PHEAA scholarship dollars. Those dollars and the money he earned during the summers put him through college. This is the reason why Bill created his endowed scholarship through his estate plans at the Shippensburg University Foundation. His wish was to help a student such as himself.
Scholarships associated with William C. Kralik