Van Wagner.  Born in Pennsylvania.  Lives in Pennsylvania. 
Makes music.  Mined coal.  Logged trees.  Teaches kids.

( Biography by Karl Shellenberger)
 
 
 

Van Wagner is an educator, forester and musical artist.  In the classroom, he teaches Agriculture
Science at Danville Area High School.  He has been selected as Conservation
Educator of the Year in 2005 from Schuylkill County and in 2007 and 2009 in Union County. In 2012 he was awarded the Sandy Cochran award for natural resource education from the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. In 2015 the Red Cross presented Van with the Robert N. Pursel Distinguished Service Award. Outside of the classroom he educates audiences with his music and programs on Pennsylvania History. He received an Outstanding Achievement Award in 2018 from the Pennsylvania Heritage Songwriting Contest. In 2021 he was recognized with an outstanding alumni award by the Danville High School alumni association.  His music has been featured on the History Channel, WVIA tv, Country Music Television (CMT), and in several film productions.  He has released 33 original albums and published a book entitle "Coal Dust Rust and Saw Dust."  His music and programs not only entertain but inspire audiences to become involved in learning more.

Home