Kathryn Lodge Mhatre (mah’-tray) graduated from Wenatchee High School in 2004 with a 3.9 GPA and was in the top ten percent of her class in the state of Washington. She continued her education at Wenatchee Valley College and Seattle Central Community College where she earned her Associate of Science degree and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Kathryn then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from the University of Washington and was posthumously awarded a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from Oregon State University, putting an exclamation point on the title of life-long learner.

Kathryn was a very compassionate and empathetic person. She worked in a number of caregiving facilities, giving aid to individuals with developmental disabilities. She also volunteered at an animal rescue and daycare facility, as her love for animals, especially dogs, was abundant.

Unfortunately, Kathryn suffered from depression for a good portion of her life, which evolved into a debilitating mental illness that consumed the better part of her last four years. After trying every treatment, therapy, and drug imaginable to ward off the effects of her miswired brain, she finally gave up any hope of ever getting better and took her own life on April 3, 2023 at age 37.

Through all of this, Kathryn was working toward her master’s degree in creative writing. She started writing journals at an early age and never stopped, having dabbled in poetry, short stories, blogs, and books. Her ultimate goal was to write a novel, which she submitted, a chapter at a time, as her master’s thesis and had nearly completed. Oregon State University graciously returned to us all of her submissions, which we are hoping to eventually get published.

One of Kathryn’s last acts was to write out a very generous check to the animal rescue organization that she so loved.

In recognition of Kathryn’s life-long desire to learn, her passion to write, and her empathy toward others and animals, her parents felt compelled to set up this scholarship in her name.

Application Opens: January 1st
Application Due Date: March 1st

Eligibility:

1. Any public, private, or homeschooled student from Chelan or Douglas County graduating High School or beyond
2. Minimum 3.0 GPA
3. Applicant will describe the area of writing they are pursuing and why (novels, poetry, journalism, etc.)
4. Applicant will submit an original, short writing sample (maximum 1 page)