Owen Boreson is the 2020 recipient of the Delbert J. Hayes Scholarship from the Carson College of Business at Washington State University.
A Clarkston High School senior, Boreson holds a 3.98 GPA, is a National Honor Society student and involved in student leadership activities including DECA and Knowledge Bowl, as well as baseball and jazz band. He will study accounting at WSU in fall 2020.
The family of Delbert Hayes established the $3 million scholarship fund in 2019 in recognition of Hayes's passion for accounting and acts of generosity. The scholarship supports graduates of Clarkston High School who are enrolled at WSU as full-time, degree-seeking accounting students with at least a 3.0 GPA.
"Being 'thankful' for the Hayes Scholarship is a massive understatement for how my family and I are feeling right now," Boreson said. "The thought of paying student loan debt for years was affecting my decision on what college to attend and what I should study. The fact that the Hayes family was willing to give me this opportunity and a leg up on my future is something I don't think I could ever thank them enough for. Because of them my life is changed. I am humbled and so excited for my future as a Cougar!"
"Our ability to award an annual scholarship that funds a student's entire undergraduate education is transformational for us as a college and for students who may not otherwise be able to pursue a degree," said Chip Hunter, Carson College dean. "At the scholarship's full capacity, we are able to support four accounting majors who graduated from Clarkston High School."
Originally from Clarkston, WA, Hayes served as Nike's executive vice president from 1980 until his retirement in 1995. He continued to serve on Nike's Board of Directors until 2005.
The family hopes recipients of this scholarship take advantage of a great education in order to someday find their passion and 'pay it forward' to the next generation.
