Trey Hoagland and Zach Hart have each been awarded a Butte American Legion Scholarship at Montana Tech. Each year, an American Legion player from Butte will be awarded a $500 scholarship to Montana Tech. This year, the inaugural year, the selection committee chose two outstanding student-athletes. The scholarship funds come from a Digger Day game hosted by the Miners.
“We are pleased to award the scholarship to Trey and Zach,” noted Joe McClafferty, President of the Montana Tech Foundation. “We have watched these two grow up in the community and on the fields in our hometown. They will both be successful on their educational path. We are pleased they have chosen Montana Tech as their solution.”
Trey will study Electrical Engineering and will compete on the Oredigger Golf team. Zach will be entering his sophomore year at Montana Tech and is studying Biology/Pre-medicine.
“Trey is one of the most intelligent baseball players I have ever coached,” explained Jeff LeProwse, head coach of the Miners. “Trey is a team captain who has participated in Butte American Legion baseball for the past 4 years. He is one of the best shortstops I have ever seen play for the Miners and there is no doubt in my mind he will have a great future. He will receive a quality education at Montana Tech. His work ethic, positive attitude and intelligence will definitely be missed by our program. There is no doubt he will be highly successful in whatever his future endeavors are and we wish him the best of luck at Montana Tech.”
"Zach was the team captain of the Miners for 2016," explained LeProwse. “Zach has played for the program for the past five years and is the hardest working kid to come out of our program in those years. Zach is an outstanding student-athlete who also competed on Butte Central’s wrestling team finishing in 2nd place his senior year at the state finals. Zach’s contributions to our program go way beyond playing in games. He lived at the baseball field in the summer and his work ethic was contagious as he would hit and field with teammates for hours after practice and on off days. I’ve never seen a kid work harder than Zach Hart and not sure I ever will. I’m confident this work ethic will help Zach fulfill his dreams of becoming a successful doctor if that is what he chooses to be. I know that whatever the future holds for Zach that he will work his tail off to be the most successful person he can be.”
LeProwse added, “Zach and Trey are perfect examples of Butte kids who through hard work, dedication and toughness will persevere through any obstacles and be successful and productive adults. I’m proud of all their accomplishments and their commitment and dedication to Butte American Legion baseball. They are perfect examples of student-athletes our program embodies and their contributions will be sorely missed. We wish them the best of luck at Montana Tech and in the future.”