The value of educational achievements cannot be overstated. Education helped springboard our family into the middle class resulting in better-paying jobs and homeownership.
During the early 1900s, very few students advanced beyond grade school. In 1900, only 11 percent of all children between ages fourteen and seventeen were enrolled in high school, and even fewer graduated. – Encyclopedia.com
The effort to identify family educational achievements¹ for 29 surnames is in its infancy. We hope everyone will help us discover this part of our family history. Do your part by submitting educational achievements for yourself and others.
Slovakian Immigrants and Education
Slovak culture traditionally did not place a high emphasis on education. The Hungarian government’s Magyarization policy, together with the agricultural nature of Slovak society, worked against developing a culture that valued formal education. – June Granatir Alexander
The 1800s
| Birth Year | Grad Year | Name | Education |
| 1893 | n/a | Mary A.F. Elcik (born Fabian) | Elementary School, 4th Grade. |
| 1896 | n/a | Paul J. Elcik, Sr. | Elementary School, 4th Grade. |
| 1886 | n/a | John P. Elcik | Elementary School, 8th Grade. |
| 1887 | n/a | Mary E. Elcik | Elementary School, 8th Grade. |
| 1896 | n/a | John P. Elcik, Jr. | Elementary School, 8th Grade. |
1900-1950
| Birth Year | Grad Year | Name | Education |
| 1901 | n/a | Mary G. Elcik (born Byras) | HS, 3rd Year. |
| 1905 | n/a | Clyde Raymond Skillin, Sr. | Elementary School, 8th Grade. |
| 1905 | n/a | Annie M. Karkos (born Elcik) | Educated In the schools of Durham and Lisbon Falls. |
| 1907 | n/a | Joseph Elsik | Elementary School, 8th Grade. |
| 1909 | n/a | Mary E. Elcik | Elementary School, 8th Grade. |
| 1911 | n/a | Rose Elsik | Elementary School, 8th Grade. |
| 1916 | n/a | Cecile L. Elcik (born Lagueux) | – |
| 1917 | – | John Lucas | HS, 4th Year. |
| 1920 | 1979 | Ferne W. Adams (born Whitlock) | HS, Lake Region High School in 1979, the same year her son William graduated. |
| 1920 | 1937 | Norman Gamache | HS, Lisbon Falls High School. |
| 1920 | 1936 | Madeline Elcik (born Lucas) | HS, Lisbon Falls High School. |
| 1921 | 1941 | Gertrude Dorothy Gamache (born Elcik) | HS, Lisbon Falls High School. |
| 1925 | – | Roland M. “Mac” McClanahan | Bachelor of Science in Commerce, DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, Alpha Delta Sigma. |
| 1925 | – | Andrew W. Elcik² | Graduate of Gorham State Teachers College, Industrial Engineering. |
| 1926 | 1946 | Barbara Elcik (born Morse) | Bachelors, Colby Junior College in New London, New Hampshire. Graduated in 1944 from Lisbon Falls High School as a co-valedictorian. |
| 1928 | 1947 | John P. Elcik, III | HS, Lisbon Falls High School. |
| 1929 | – | Joyce Elaine Skillin (born Gardner) | Graduated as a salutatorian from Merrill High School. |
| 1929 | – | Wanda L. McCauley/Elcik (born Simmons) | A top graduate of the Franklin High School class of 1948. |
| 1930 | 1948 | Jacqueline Elcik/Skillin (born Skillin) | HS, Cony High School. |
| 1931 | – | Clyde Raymond Skillin, Jr. | – |
| 1933 | 1982 | Eugene Paul Elcik | Bachelor of Science, Business, University of Southern Maine. |
| 1935 | – | Thomas E. Gruhl | Franklin College and the Banking College at the University of Wisconsin. He served in the US Army for two years and was blessed to receive the GI Bill. |
| 1940 | – | Edward P. Elcik | HS, Lisbon High School. |
| 1942 | – | John Edmond “Jack” Gamache | Bachelors, Maine Maritime Academy. |
| 1947 | – | Larry Kashmer | Bachelors, Electrical Engineering. |
1950-2000
| Birth Year | Grad Year | Name | Education |
| 1952 | – | Kathleen (McClanahan) Gruhl | Bachelor of Science, Ball State University. |
| 1952 | 1984 | John P. Elcik, Ed.D.³ | Education Doctorate (1984), Educational Administration; Master of Arts, Executive Development for Public Service; Bachelor of Arts (1974), American Studies, University of Maryland Baltimore County; Associate of Arts (1972), Secondary Education, Anne Arundel Community College, Phi Delta Kappa. |
| 1953 | 1975 | Andrew W. “Bucky” Elcik | Bachelor’s, Environmental Conservation, University of New Hampshire. Attended Maine Maritime Academy for one year. Graduate of Berlin High School in 1971. |
| 1954 | 1979 | James Stacy Elcik | Bachelor of Science, University of Maryland Baltimore County. |
| 1954 | 1977 | Pamela Ann Elcik (born McClanahan) | Bachelor of Science, Public Relations, Speech and Theatre, Ball State University. |
| 1960 | – | Suzanne Mary “Suzy” Elcik (born McMahon) | Bachelor of Science, Psychology, University of Maryland. |
| 1961 | 1991 | Jeffrey Lee Elcik | Master of Science (1991), Operations Research, George Washington University, Bachelor of Science (1984), Electrical Engineering, Omega Rho. |
| 1965 | 1992 | Kelly Ann McClanahan | Bachelors, Carthage College. |
| 1968 | – | Shannon Lee McClanahan, M.Ed. | Master of Education, Business/ Marketing, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. |
| 1968 | 1989 | Karen Elcik | Bachelors, SUNY Oneonta. |
| 1969 | – | Karen Lawler (born Strand) | Bachelors, Purdue University; HS, Shortridge High School. |
| 1970 | – | Loni Beth Knoedler (born Gamache) | – |
| 1972 | 1994 | John Derek Gamache | Bachelor of Science, Speech Communication and Rhetoric, University of Maine. |
| 1981 | 2016 | Dennis Duryea | Doctor of Radiology. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Stratford. Bachelors, Otterbein College, Westerville, Ohio. Medical School, UMDNJ – New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine – 2009 Residency, Diagnostic Radiology Milton S. Hershey Medical Center – 2015 Internship, Osteopathic Medicine Crozer-Keystone Health System – 2010 |
| 1984 | 2010 | Stacey Daniel Duryea, MD (born Elcik) | Medical Doctor, Anesthesiologist, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. |
| 1986 | 2010 | John “J.P.” Elcik, V | Bachelor of Science, Science Education, Bright Futures Scholarship, State of Florida 2006-2010. |
| 1986 | – | Matthew Portell | Master of Business Administration (2022 expected), Finance, General, Loyola University Maryland. Diploma of Graduation with Honors, Maryland Banking School, Maryland Bankers Association. |
| 1987 | 2012 | Lauren Portell (born Elcik) | Bachelors, Secondary Education and Social Studies, McDaniel College. Masters, Education |
| 1987 | 2009 | Michelle Kathleen Elcik | Bachelor of Science, Political Science, Bright Futures Scholarship, State of Florida 2006-2010. |
| 1990 | 2019 | Samuel Martin Elcik, DMD | DMD, Dentist, Roseman University of Health Sciences. |
| 1992 | 2019 | Christopher James Elcik | Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Earth and Atmospheric Science. |
| 1993 | – | Maxwell Crews Elcik | – |
| 1994 | – | Devon Elcik (born Flickinger) | Ph.D. Coursework (ABD), Earth and Atmospheric Science, Mississippi State University. |
| 1998 | 2020 | Harrison Joseph Elcik | Bachelor of Science, School of Public Health, University of Maryland. |
2000 and Beyond
| Birth Year | Grad Year | Name | Education |
Educational Achievements
The Elcik’s began life in America as day laborers and demonstrated a strong work ethic of which we should be proud. By getting an education, working hard, they experienced homeownership when few did. Today’s family has built on their real success, placed emphasis on education, and most have graduated from college. And at least four have earned doctoral degrees.
Footnotes
¹The documentation for educational achievements is found in historical and public records. Sources include the U.S. Federal Census, obituaries, and LinkedIn.
²Is Andrew the first family member to earn a college degree?
³Is John the first family member, to earn a doctorate? [John claims to be the first person with a 2-year Associates Degree to continue earning a Doctorate. Pam thinks he should have been a lawyer.]
