education

52 AI Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 36: Off to school

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I’ve combined Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 ancestors in 52 weeks challenge, and Steve Little’s The 2025 AI Genealogy Do-Over, to create a unique 52 AI ancestors in 52 weeks party!

52 AI Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 36: Off to school

“Off to School: A Science Teacher in the Making”

Introduction: The Spark

When did my son Evan first love science?

I keep a K-12 book and in Kindergarten, for “What I want to be when I grow up,” I wrote for him, “Dentist, weatherman, football player, baseball player.” The others dropped, but weatherman remained until fifth grade, when it transformed into meteorologist and remained. I stuck his high school transcript in that book and see Honors biology, Chemistry, Honors Physics, and AP Chemistry in high school. So I guess the answer to that question is “always.”

In his first year as a Boy Scout, he went with Troop 61 to Camp Rodney in Maryland, and 11-year-old Evan announced that he wanted to work at Boy Scout Camp! And he did… when he was 14, he became a Counselor in Training and worked there every summer for about a decade. Thus, his love for helping younger children.

Oh, we definitely encouraged him! I sent him to Johns Hopkins’ Center for Talented Youth summer courses and he chose courses including physics and engineering. We went to every science museum and aquarium in driving distance. When we vacationed in Florida, we stopped at Cape Canaveral, where we had to buy him an astronaut helmet. (He paid me not to include that photo in my post.)

Section 1: Science at Play

I feel that Evan’s curiosity played into his becoming a scientist. Much of his childhood was asking us “Why?” (Ask anyone in the family and they will roll their eyes!) As a leader at Boy Scout Camp, he ran the Buckskin Camper program for first-year scouts.

Section 2: Off to School as a Teacher

That curiosity, paired with years of leading younger Scouts, made teaching a natural choice. Evan knew by the time he was selecting colleges that teaching would be his profession. He selected a school well known for its teaching program, and actually earned two degrees – one in education and one in science. He student taught in a nearby city, and in Luxembourg.

He’s now sharing his enthusiasm via experiments with 9th graders in a disadvantaged school district.

He may not be an astronaut, but he launches experiments every day, and the results are (usually) less volatile.

Section 3: Family Continuity

My dad was quite poor and considered himself fortunate to get a full scholarship to an excellent university. He always impressed the value of education on us children, and I made sure to pass that along to my children. I plan to start an endowment in his name at his university.

The next generation has picked up the torch, clearly, and my coda is that months ago, Evan married another teacher. One of their engagement photos was of them doing an experiment together. ❤

Off to school isn’t just about learning; it’s about those who show up every day to teach.

How AI Can Help

Just ask Sal Khan:

  • AI can help teachers create lesson plans, quizzes, or lab activity guides.
  • AI can suggest science project ideas or even simulate data (weather, astronomy).
  • For genealogists: AI can help us study how education shaped our ancestors’ lives.

Challenge for Readers

  • Who in your family tree worked in education as teachers, librarians, principals, nurses, or even cafeteria staff?
  • Did anyone in your family have a “school spirit” role? (band, cheer, debate team?)
  • Share a memory of someone “off to school” from your family story.

Want to Learn More?

Conclusion

I am so very proud of all of my children, but my teacher son has upheld this particular family tradition in a way that he has made all his own.

“Off to school” looks different for everyone, and I am pleased to present to you our versions. But no matter the appearance, it always circles back to curiosity, commitment, and care for the next generation.

Next Week’s Topic: “In the news”

AI Disclosure

This post was created by me with the help of AI tools. While AI helps organize research, the storytelling and discoveries are my own.

52 AI Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 18: Institutions

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I’ve combined Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 ancestors in 52 weeks challenge, and Steve Little’s The 2025 AI Genealogy Do-Over, to create a unique 52 AI ancestors in 52 weeks party!

52 AI Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 18: Institutions

Introduction

As Amy Johnson Crow pointed out, “institutions” can mean many things. For me, the word instantly calls to mind the high value my family places on education.

Discussion

My mother’s brother prides himself on being the first in the family to graduate from college (note to self: email Uncle and ask where he attended).

My father was also the first in his line; he went to St. John’s University. His family wasn’t well off — I later learned he attended on a full scholarship. When I spoke to the university, they told me it was probably through the Catholic Scholars program: one full ride per Catholic high school in New York City. I wish Dad had bragged a little about that!

He raised us with a strong emphasis on education; “keep your options open” was a saying I heard often, and he firmly believed education was the way to do that. Two of his three children earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.

Today, I work in the Worldwide Learning organization at my employer, and my son is a high school teacher, about to marry a primary school teacher.

The force runs strong in this line.

What was your family’s take on education?

How AI can help

One addition to my bucket list is to create a scholarship, possibly in my dad’s name at his alma mater. While I hesitated, the cost of an endowment doubled. Time to get serious!

Here’s how AI can help with the process:

  • Research scholarship programs: AI can compare endowed scholarship requirements across universities.
  • Gather qualification criteria: AI can collect eligibility standards to help shape the scholarship.
  • Draft proposals: AI can suggest wording for scholarship descriptions and application processes.
  • Organize comparisons: AI can create tables showing costs, donation requirements, and benefits.

Summary and challenge

What’s holding me back? I want to take advantage of my employer’s matching funds, but I’m not sure how to set it up. My plan:

  1. Use AI to research scholarship structures and matching fund options.
  2. Contact the university to confirm current endowment requirements.
  3. Reach out to my employer’s HR or charitable giving department for advice.

“A scholarship endowment is more than a donation; it’s a promise to future dreamers that someone believes in their journey.”

Thanks to ChatGPT for that quote!

Figure 1 My son attended my Master’s graduation!

Your Turn:

What “institutions” have shaped your family story? Education, religion, military service? I’d love to hear about it.

Next week’s topic: “At the Library.“

Disclosure

This post was created by me and refined with AI assistance. While AI helps organize research, the storytelling and discoveries are my own.