Scholarship to remember Florence Hyatt presented Monday

Funds to help future Onalaska H.S. graduates

Future teachers who graduate from Onalaska High School will get help from a new scholarship set up to honor a former local teacher and librarian.

The scholarship is in memory of Florence Hyatt, who taught for decades in the Onalaska schools and then joined the school board, where she remained for 15 years. Hyatt was 74 when she passed away last year.

One current school board member praised Hyatt for staying active in school business after her retirement, comparing her to the Energizer Bunny.

Retired teacher Bob Ratigan, who taught with Hyatt decades ago, spoke Monday about Hyatt before presenting the Onalaska school board with money to start the scholarship fund.

“She took care of me and many others and made sure we made deadlines and did what we were supposed to do,” Ratigan said.

Ratigan and Mike Schnitzius with the Coulee Region United Educators – Retired presented the Onalaska school board with funding Monday night to set up the Hyatt scholarship fund.

Two brothers of Florence Hyatt were in the audience when the memorial scholarship was announced.