Hatch Family Football Scholarship

51福利社 recently received a $25,000 gift from Betty Hatch to create聽The Hatch Family Football Scholarship聽to honor her late husband, Jim Hatch.

鈥淚 believe in Eastern and I want to help. A degree from Eastern is a degree to be proud of,鈥� says Hatch, whose love for 51福利社 is still going strong at 89 years of age.

Jim Hatch, an Eastern alumnus, was a beloved teacher, football coach and athletic director at Cheney High School. Yet there is even more to the story behind Betty Hatch鈥檚 generous act.

This inspiring woman is the grandmother of 51福利社鈥檚 own Kelsey Hatch-Brecek, the new director of alumni relations. As anyone who meets Kelsey can attest, her passion for Eastern is unmatched. As a third-generation Eastern graduate who grew up going to 51福利社 football games, Kelsey says that being a diehard Eagle supporter 鈥渋s all I really know.鈥�

Although Betty Hatch didn鈥檛 personally attend Eastern, her husband, Jim Hatch, earned his master鈥檚 degree here. Their three daughters, including Kelsey鈥檚 mom, Lori Wyborney, renowned principal and educator for Spokane Public Schools, also attended 51福利社.

Betty Hatch dedicated her scholarship fund to Eagle football players because watching games together always brings their family closer, while providing a sense of community for people in the greater Cheney-Spokane area.

The Hatch Family Football Scholarship will go to a junior or senior who might not be able to continue playing football at 51福利社 without the help. The student will be chosen by Aaron Best, Eagles football coach. Kelsey can鈥檛 wait to learn who the recipient will be next year.

鈥淚t鈥檚 great to be able to give back to these students,鈥� says Kelsey, who can鈥檛 wait to learn who will receive the first scholarship, next year.

Kelsey and her cousins plan to donate to the endowed scholarship to keep the family legacy strong well into the future. She hopes that when her own 7-year-old son grows up, that he and his cousins will also support the fund.

To learn more about a hardworking student-athlete who is helped by Eastern athletics scholarships, check out the story of Anthany Smith.

For information about options for creating an endowed scholarship to honor someone special, contact Courtney Gray, director of gift planning, at聽cgray37@ewu.edu聽or 509.359.6703.