Al Couch graduated from Zillah High School in 1924, but as he did not have the money to attend college, spent a year working in the orchards of the Yakima Valley "nailing apple boxes together" before enrolling at what was then the Washington Agricultural College in 1925.  He joined and was initiated into the local Omega Phi Fraternity in 1926 before initiating as the eighth member of the chartering class of Alpha Kappa Chapter of Phi Kappa Tau.  Couch put himself through school by mopping floors in Troy Hall before landing the House Manager job in the fraternity, the only paid position at the time.

 

     Nearly seven decades later and after a forty year career with Puget Sound Power and Light, Al wanted to find a way to give back to the college and fraternity that meant so much to him and enabled him to get an education.  In the spring of 1994 he created the AK Endowed Scholarship Fund with an initial gift of $10,000 and a pledge to match all contributions up to an additional $10,000.  Al has continued to match gifts through the years and during the celebration of our 80th year on campus in the fall of 2003, he expressed his desire to see the assets of the fund grow to over $60,000 in 2004.  As we are launching our first campaign for the fund since it was created ten years ago, that goal is clearly in sight. 

 

     Recipients shall be entering their junior or senior year at Washington State University and shall be selected based on their scholastic achievement, financial need, and contribution to the chapter and campus.  Thus, the recipients selected set a strong example for others - balancing a strong GPA with participation and leadership within the AK chapter and across the WSU community.   

 

 

morgans@wsu.edu