Welcome
About
Michael W. Hoke
Michael Hoke was born in Dickinson, TX, the third of four boys, to Marvin Ford and Jesse Faye Hoke in July of 1948. He grew up playing amongst the woods and wetlands that abounded near his childhood home. It was during these formative years that he first fell in love with the outdoors and what it had to offer. After graduating from Dickinson High School he would go on to attend Lamar University, and after nearly not making it out of his first year, he found his footing, and Sandra, and eventually graduated with a degree in Biology.
Most people would have you believe that Michael immediately found a job as a teacher, but that wasn’t the case. He began working at Sherwin Williams selling paint. However, after a dispute involving a sales commission, he got in his car, and drove down to a school, entered and asked to speak to the principal, as he had decided he wanted to become a teacher. It was that fateful day that would lead him to the become one of the best and most lauded science educators in the country.
During his career he would go on to found or co-found such programs as Bios: A School on Wheels, Science Superstars, Eco-Rangers, and many more. His work impacted thousands of students, instilling in many a lifelong love of science and the environment.
What We Do
The goal of the Michael W. Hoke Foundation is to improve science and environmental education throughout the state of Texas; a goal that Michael spent his entire career trying to do.
Providing Scholarship
The MWH Foundation is dedicated to endowing scholarship(s) for deserving students who are pursuing a career in science or environmental education at Michael's alma mater, Lamar University.
Investing in Education
At the Michael W. Hoke Foundation for Excellence in Science Education we believe that scientific literacy is the cornerstone of a well-rounded education
Creating a Sense of Wonder
An overarching goal of of the Foundation is to mentor children of all ages to be kind to their world and to ignite curiosity, instill a sense of wonder, nurture creativity, spark excitement, encourage exploration, inspire respect, expand knowledge, and model stewardship.
A child's world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder and excitement.
~Rachel Carson, 'The Sense of Wonder'
