When Page Pennington and John Schreck first met in beginning band in fourth grade, they could have never predicted that their shared love of music would lead them to the life they have today: one full of love, family, and support for their alma mater, The University of Texas at Austin..

Both the Schreck and Pennington families have deep roots at the university that they support. Page’s parents, Warren Pennington and Patricia Sandlin Pennington, were also UT graduates, as well as the Schrecks’ eldest daughter, Kristen, who earned her degree in history and obtained her teaching certificate through the UTeach program in 2007.  Kristen’s husband, Rodrigo Pereira, has two degrees from UT.

It was Kristen’s teaching experience that led the couple to create The John and Page Schreck Endowed Presidential Scholarship. Both merit and financial need are considered in giving the scholarship, which is to be split between students in UTeach and engineering.

“Kristen taught at a school in McKinney that had students who included the richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor,” Page said. “There were some special students she taught who were among the very top of their large graduating class and had to take showers at the school because they did not have running water and did not have glass in their windows.”

Through Kristen, John and Page had the opportunity to see that these students were driven to flourish academically despite adverse circumstances.

“Several of the students received scholarships to some of the finest educational institutions in the country,” Page said. “John and I appreciated the work that these kids did and want to help students like them succeed.”

In addition to Kristen, the Schreck family consists of daughters Emily, an industrial engineer for Office Depot who graduated from Georgia Tech, and Melissa, a 2015 graduate from Baylor University. They also welcomed their first granddaughter, Annalise, when Kristen and Rodrigo added to their family in March 2013.

Both John and Page said they are thankful for the educations they received at UT.

After graduating with highest honors in electrical engineering from the university in 1981, John went on to earn his MS in electrical engineering from Rice University and began his career as an engineer with Texas Instruments.

Page also graduated with honors in chemical engineering in 1981 and worked in the natural gas industry as a reservoir engineer and systems administrator before her retirement.

John and Page feel they have been blessed and, through the scholarship, want to give others the opportunity for a UT education.

John currently serves as vice president of DRAM Engineering at Micron Technology. He has authored and co-authored 65 patents in a semiconductor memory. Page currently volunteers in the community through Meals on Wheels and plays music in multiple choirs at their church.