The Joe K. Wasson Memorial Scholarship was established in 2024 by his children and their families to honor his life as an educator. Mr. Wasson served as a Chemistry and Physics teacher for 6 years in the Oakwood-Fithian School District, followed by over 25 years in the Moline School District. He started at Moline as a Chemistry and Physics teacher but soon began working as a Guidance Counselor and a Vocation Counselor. He ultimately served as the head of the Guidance Counseling department until he retired.

Mr. Wasson grew up on a farm and was exposed to various experiences, allowing him to learn numerous technical skills. If you asked him about his younger years, he would have told you that he never would have imagined ending up as a teacher. He worked on the farm, as a Milk Man, a truck driver, a shade tree mechanic and a meat cutter in a grocery store to name just a few of his early experiences. Serving in the military allowed him to attend college, and there, a dedicated Chemistry professor helped guide him into his profession. Even after starting as a teacher, he still spent time in the summer, and other breaks learning about the work life of others by serving as a school bus driver, heavy construction equipment operator, laborer at John Deere Plow and Planter, and even served on a construction crew for a summer when a new wing was being added to Moline High School.

What, you may ask yourself, does this have to do with a scholarship for a young person pursuing a career in a technical labor field? Mr. Wasson’s experiences taught him that there are many paths that a person can take to find a rewarding career, and he always tried to help match students with a career path that helped them meet their goals. Having worked in many varied fields, he felt well prepared to advise them on what they could expect in pursuing careers in their chosen field, whether they were going on to a training program, technical school, or college/university. He would feel thrilled and honored to know that this scholarship assisted a young person with the opportunity to pursue their life’s goal.