20th Annual Donor Appreciation Scholarship Dinner
October 26, 2017 | General, Tyee Club
By Kimberlie Haner
Twenty years ago the Tyee office hosted its first Donor Appreciation Scholarship event. The vision was brought to life by a Tyee donor LaGayle Sosnowy. LaGayle and John Sosnowy established the Sosnowy Family Endowed Tennis Scholarship in recognition of their daughter and former Husky, Kori Sosnowy. Over the past 20 years' donor generosity has grown our endowments from approximately $ 5 million in 1997 to almost $70 million today.
This October we celebrated the 20th Annual Donor Appreciation Scholarship Dinner to thank Tyee Club Scholarship Endowment donors at the Don James Center in Husky Stadium. Student-athletes and coaches gathered to express their appreciation to the families who provide their athletic scholarships.
The dinner featured five speakers. Eric Radovich welcomed the attendees before giving way to Washington Director of Athletics Jen Cohen. She spoke about the difference that donors make in the lives of student-athletes and how important their contributions are.
Following Cohen's thoughts, two student-athletes spoke about how they have been affected by scholarships: Sam Kokoska from the women's soccer team and Channing Nesbitt from the baseball team. They both shared experiences showing how donations from Tyee Club members has changed their lives.
Kokoska talked about how her college soccer career actually began at UCLA before she realized Washington would be a better fit.
"After just one visit to Seattle, I knew that this was where I was meant to be," Kokoska said. "I felt like I'd come home and I'm so grateful that Washington offered me a scholarship to play for the Huskies – the Pre-Title IX Husky Women's Athletics Endowment, funded so generously by donor Mary Schutten."
In her time as a Husky, Kokoska has learned a lot about soccer, engineering and life skills. But she said that being at Washington has taught her a lot about people as well.
"I've learned that student-athletes like me would never get the opportunity to play the sports we love or to earn a degree from an internationally prestigious school like UW without donors who support our scholarships and so much more," Kokoska said.
Nesbitt, the next speaker, spoke about how fortunate he was to receive a scholarship from the Myers family. He shared the many opportunities he has had thanks to their generous donations. Donors like the Myers also helped him make connections for a summer internship.
"I was hired to work with attorneys who were prepping their cases and I even got to go to trial with them a few times," Nesbitt said. "As a political science and economy major thinking about law school or the UW Evans School as a next step, that was an awesome experience."
Last year, Nesbitt also had the chance to represent Washington at the Black Student-Athletes Conference in Texas. That experience changed his outlook on the world and inspired him. That would not have been possible without the Tyee Club donors.
"Sports and academics and a social life are important, but there are much more important things going on in society that I care about," Nesbitt said. "I want to be a catalyst for bringing people together on those issues. Having the opportunity to awaken my commitment to these issues by attending that conference was one of the most defining moments of my college experience."
Janice Olson, the Chair of the Tyee Board of Advisors, closed the evening by sharing the importance of community and why she gives.
Janice and her husband Rod Olson established the Olson Family Scholarship Endowment for Husky Athletics to support Men's Basketball. She spoke to the student-athletes in the room, "In order for you to have conquered all the challenges you faced along the way to Washington, you had to have had a community to embrace and support you…student-athletes, don't forget the community that brought you here. Thank your generous donors tonight, for sure… but thank your own team moms and dads, too. An unexpected phone call to say thanks — not a text — can make all those long hours, painfully loud bus rides and team snacks worthwhile."
All of the Husky student-athletes spent the rest of the evening speaking with donors and sharing their experiences during dinner.
Twenty years ago the Tyee office hosted its first Donor Appreciation Scholarship event. The vision was brought to life by a Tyee donor LaGayle Sosnowy. LaGayle and John Sosnowy established the Sosnowy Family Endowed Tennis Scholarship in recognition of their daughter and former Husky, Kori Sosnowy. Over the past 20 years' donor generosity has grown our endowments from approximately $ 5 million in 1997 to almost $70 million today.
This October we celebrated the 20th Annual Donor Appreciation Scholarship Dinner to thank Tyee Club Scholarship Endowment donors at the Don James Center in Husky Stadium. Student-athletes and coaches gathered to express their appreciation to the families who provide their athletic scholarships.
The dinner featured five speakers. Eric Radovich welcomed the attendees before giving way to Washington Director of Athletics Jen Cohen. She spoke about the difference that donors make in the lives of student-athletes and how important their contributions are.
Following Cohen's thoughts, two student-athletes spoke about how they have been affected by scholarships: Sam Kokoska from the women's soccer team and Channing Nesbitt from the baseball team. They both shared experiences showing how donations from Tyee Club members has changed their lives.
Kokoska talked about how her college soccer career actually began at UCLA before she realized Washington would be a better fit.
"After just one visit to Seattle, I knew that this was where I was meant to be," Kokoska said. "I felt like I'd come home and I'm so grateful that Washington offered me a scholarship to play for the Huskies – the Pre-Title IX Husky Women's Athletics Endowment, funded so generously by donor Mary Schutten."
In her time as a Husky, Kokoska has learned a lot about soccer, engineering and life skills. But she said that being at Washington has taught her a lot about people as well.
"I've learned that student-athletes like me would never get the opportunity to play the sports we love or to earn a degree from an internationally prestigious school like UW without donors who support our scholarships and so much more," Kokoska said.
Nesbitt, the next speaker, spoke about how fortunate he was to receive a scholarship from the Myers family. He shared the many opportunities he has had thanks to their generous donations. Donors like the Myers also helped him make connections for a summer internship.
"I was hired to work with attorneys who were prepping their cases and I even got to go to trial with them a few times," Nesbitt said. "As a political science and economy major thinking about law school or the UW Evans School as a next step, that was an awesome experience."
Last year, Nesbitt also had the chance to represent Washington at the Black Student-Athletes Conference in Texas. That experience changed his outlook on the world and inspired him. That would not have been possible without the Tyee Club donors.
"Sports and academics and a social life are important, but there are much more important things going on in society that I care about," Nesbitt said. "I want to be a catalyst for bringing people together on those issues. Having the opportunity to awaken my commitment to these issues by attending that conference was one of the most defining moments of my college experience."
Janice Olson, the Chair of the Tyee Board of Advisors, closed the evening by sharing the importance of community and why she gives.
Janice and her husband Rod Olson established the Olson Family Scholarship Endowment for Husky Athletics to support Men's Basketball. She spoke to the student-athletes in the room, "In order for you to have conquered all the challenges you faced along the way to Washington, you had to have had a community to embrace and support you…student-athletes, don't forget the community that brought you here. Thank your generous donors tonight, for sure… but thank your own team moms and dads, too. An unexpected phone call to say thanks — not a text — can make all those long hours, painfully loud bus rides and team snacks worthwhile."
All of the Husky student-athletes spent the rest of the evening speaking with donors and sharing their experiences during dinner.
Head Coach Jedd Fisch Press Conference: November 24, 2025
Monday, November 24
Dubs knows @KingCountyMetro is the best way to get to & from the Greatest Setting 🚌
Monday, November 24
Washington Women's Basketball Postgame Press Conference: Vermont
Monday, November 24
No. 25 Washington 71, Vermont 39 | Huskies Highlights
Monday, November 24
