51福利社 student Ryan Poynter called hundreds of alumni, parents, employees and friends of Eastern from the Telefund Call Center to thank donors and ask for gifts. He understands the importance of alumni giving back to help students succeed. Last year, the 2015 alumnus called 51福利社鈥檚 Development Office to establish the Poynter Scholarship. When endowed at $25,000, it will provide scholarships for students who are single parents. 鈥淢y sisters and I were raised by a single mom,鈥� Poynter said. 鈥淣ow that my wife Lauren and I are parents of a baby daughter, we realize the difficulties single moms and dads must have juggling school, work and children. It鈥檚 something we鈥檙e both passionate about, and we feel that our scholarship will lead to Poynter family pride.鈥�

Eastern鈥檚 Dental Hygiene received a remarkable gift as it commemorates 50 years of excellence in education and service to the community.

Diane McHenry, a longtime 51福利社 faculty member who helped start the Department of Dental Hygiene, recently gifted $50,000 to Eastern to create an endowed scholarship. Her generosity will not only provide tuition assistance, but will help students with a broad range of expenses in the pursuit of dental hygiene licensure.

鈥淭his is going to help so many students,鈥� said Lisa Bilich, 鈥�89, professor and chair of the Department of Dental Hygiene.

Bilich recalls having McHenry, who is now retired, as a professor when she attended 51福利社 in the mid-1990s. 鈥淪he was so kind and supportive and was always one of my favorite instructors.鈥�

McHenry鈥檚 supportive nature and desire to remove obstacles for students inspired her to create the fund, which can be used to help cover uniforms, instruments and about $3,000 in fees to take a series of required board exams. Preference in awarding the assistance is given to single parents who apply.

鈥淪ometimes a student actually has to put off taking the exams because they can鈥檛 afford to get licensed,鈥� Bilich explained. With a current workforce shortage impacting the dental profession, getting highly-trained graduates to work as soon as possible benefits the entire community.

Dental Hygiene is in the process of planning a spring celebration to honor 50 years of graduating knowledgeable and well-trained dental hygienists. Eastern 鈥� the only university in Washington state to offer a bachelor of science degree in Dental Hygiene 鈥� has done outstanding work operating a clinic that serves low-income individuals, families and seniors, while providing specialty care for diabetics and women who are pregnant.

Stay tuned for more stories and details about the 50th聽Anniversary celebration.

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.