Dr. Paula M. Wilson’s
Dr. Paula M. Wilson’s Lasting Legacy
There are pivotal characters in all of our lives. And just as is true in any story, characters come and go. They’re here to teach us for a little while—and then, when it’s time—they may leave the stage or page, but their presence will forever ripple through us, out into the world.
Dr. Paula M. Wilson—a beloved Lancaster County educator—passed away in January of this year, after a brief and sudden fight with pancreatic cancer. In the mere weeks she had left, she lived out the motto she instilled in her children and students: “See the good in every day.” If she could no longer physically be here to make a difference in the lives of her students, then she would find a way to do it in spirit.
“Being the positive person she was, she turned the negative into a positive upon receipt of her diagnosis, and asked her family to set up a scholarship in her memory,” her son, David Wilson, shared. “She wanted to continue to assist students in achieving their academic endeavors for generations to come.”
And so The Dr. Paula M. Wilson Scholarship for Future Educators was created.
Dr. Wilson graduated from Kutztown University. It was there that she met her husband, Steve Wilson. They lived together in Lancaster for the past 35 years with their three children: Matthew, David, and Abby.
Dr. Wilson spent her career as an educator in different facets. She was a champion for the underdog, and always lent an ear and an open heart to her students. She spent a number of years as a special education supervisor for the Intermediate Unit (IU13), and was the principal at Hamilton Elementary in the School District of Lancaster for 15 years. She earned her Master’s Degree from Millersville University, her Principal's Certificate from Immaculata University, and her Doctorate of Education from Widener University. “She strived to ignite a passion for learning in all students, no matter their background, and she encouraged her students to pursue their goals with focus and integrity,” Wilson said.
An advocate for hands-on learning, she planted gardens at Hamilton Elementary as part of the Edible Schoolyard Program, through which students help cultivate the plots as they learn about biology, science, and politics, as well as critical thinking skills. In recent years, Dr. Wilson became a Master Gardener, inspired by agriculture and nature.
The scholarship in Dr. Wilson’s name will be awarded annually to a graduating senior from the School District of Lancaster who is pursuing a degree in education. The recipient will be chosen by her family, as based upon academic performance and a written essay. “We want to do everything we can to keep her memory and passion for education alive,” Wilson explained.
As an educator, Dr. Wilson dedicated her life to helping her students grow and cultivate the life of their dreams. And while she may no longer be here with us physically, what has blossomed forth in her absence will ripple out into the lives of many students to come.
To contribute to The Dr. Paula M. Wilson Scholarship for Future Educators, visit lancastereducation.com/contribute/. Note: Be sure to include that the donation is for the “Dr. Paula M. Wilson Scholarship” when making your contribution online.
By Allison Rohland
