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Alumna Bice Donates Children's Book to WIU in Memory of Emeritus Professor

April 24, 2018

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MACOMB, IL – A Western Illinois University alumna was on campus Friday to donate one of her recently-completed children's books in honor of one of her late professors, from whom she said she learned the value of teaching about nature.

Julie Ann Bice, of Quincy, IL, received her master's degree from WIU in elementary education in 2001. She recently published "The Power of the Flower," and donated a copy of her book to the WIU Curriculum Library in memory of the late Professor Emeritus Maurice Kellogg.

Bice was at Western Friday to speak at the Science Update Conference, an event sponsored by the Maurice G. Kellogg Foundation, which is an opportunity for science teachers from across the state to come together and share ideas. She presented a workshop at the conference with her colleague Mary McMahon on the monarch butterfly and butterfly gardening with children. McMahon is a former student of Kellogg and was the 2009 recipient of the Maurice G. Kellogg, Excellence in Science Teacher of the Year award.

Bice said putting on the workshops together is a way she and McMahon honor Kellogg. McMahon is a McDonough County teacher and received her bachelor's degree (teacher education, 1975) and master's degree (recreation, park and tourism administration, 1983) from WIU. She travels to national parks in the summer to serve as a park ranger.

"The book, 'The Power of the Flower,' is my first in a series of children's books," said Bice. "It is all about having lifelong perennial friends, flowers, colors and attracting 'flying jewels of the air' to your garden. I am dedicating it to the Curriculum library because Maurice Kellogg taught us all the value of teaching children about the wonders of nature. He made sure we shared those wonders with our students. I wrote a dedication to him in the front of the book."

Bice is currently finishing a second book, "For the Love of the Monarch," which will be released this summer.

"Because of the great learning experiences I received at WIU, working on my thesis in graduate school, I made a promise to 'leave no child indoors,'" said Bice. "I built butterfly gardens in every school I taught at, including a college. I hope this book encourages children, and the adults who love them, to experience the joy that comes from feeling the warm sunshine on your face, the fresh air rustling your hair and the sense of connection with the dark rich earth. When adults and children explore nature together, the lessons learned become priceless and full of wonder."

In 2011, Bice was also awarded the Maurice G. Kellogg, Excellence in Science Teacher of the Year award. She said it is, by far, the greatest honor of her career.

"I hope this book would make Maurice proud of the lessons that have been generated exponentially because of his love and dedication to excellence in education," said Bice. "Those lessons will live on with the children who we touch along the way....because of him. He made a difference in many lives. He remembered everything about each and every one of the teachers he mentored and left a piece of himself as treasures for us all. We are all better people because he crossed our path."

For more information about Bice's books, visit bit.ly/2vCN1gX.

Posted By: Jodi Pospeschil (JK-Pospeschil@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing