Hatch Family Football Scholarship

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

“I believe in Eastern and I want to help. A degree from Eastern is a degree to be proud of,” says Hatch, whose love for EWU 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’s generous act.

This inspiring woman is the grandmother of EWU’s 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 EWU football games, Kelsey says that being a diehard Eagle supporter “is all I really know.”

Although Betty Hatch didn’t personally attend Eastern, her husband, Jim Hatch, earned his master’s degree here. Their three daughters, including Kelsey’s mom, Lori Wyborney, renowned principal and educator for Spokane Public Schools, also attended EWU.

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 EWU without the help. The student will be chosen by Aaron Best, Eagles football coach. Kelsey can’t wait to learn who the recipient will be next year.

“It’s great to be able to give back to these students,” says Kelsey, who can’t 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 Susemiehl, director of gift planning, at csusemie@ewu.edu or 509.359.6703.