Featured Testimonial About Creighton University
Every student represents Creighton on the court and in their communities, and that's what we want — to be a part of forming our male and female student-athletes into responsible leaders.
Creighton Athletics is proud to announce longtime supporters Janie and Harry Hoch, Jr. have established The Janie & Harry Hoch, Jr. Family Point Guard Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship is the first position-specific endowment for the men's basketball program and will help support the scholarship for the point guard position on the men's basketball team.
Through this gift, the point guard position will now be known as the "Hoch Family Endowed Point Guard."
The Hoch's investment in the Creighton Men's Basketball program will provide perpetual support to the program through the family's scholarship. The endowment will allow Head Coach Greg McDermott to recruit and retain prospective student-athletes who exemplify the characteristics of the Hoch Family and excel on the basketball floor.
"Harry and Janie serve as just one example of the unbelievable support Creighton Men's Basketball receives from our fans and community," said McDermott. "Their investment in us will allow our program to continue to achieve more tomorrow than we can today. We are humbled by their generosity and willingness to impact the lives of our young men and can't thank them enough for their commitment to us."
Janie and Harry Hoch, Jr. have followed Creighton Athletics closely for nearly three decades. Three of their four children attended Creighton. Harry Hoch III, BSBA'04 and Michael Hoch, BSBA'08, were both student-athletes on the men's golf team while attending Creighton. Their daughter Melissa Hoch Laflin, BA'08, completed a three-year internship with the Athletics Department.
"Every student represents Creighton on the court and in their communities, and that's what we want—to be a part of forming our male and female student-athletes into responsible leaders," says Harry.
This year's recipient is Marcus Zegarowski, a sophomore from Hamilton, Mass. Last season, Zegarowski was one of two unanimous selections to the BIG EAST's All-Freshman Team. His leadership to the Bluejay team is apparent in the way he performs both on and off the court. This season, Marcus is currently averaging 17.9 points, 4.3 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game all while shooting nearly 50% from the field.
Through the years, the Hochs have consistently impacted Creighton in more ways than their philanthropic involvement. From 2016-18, Janie and Harry served as chairs of the Bluejay Jamboree and assisted the athletic department in securing over $1,000,000 in scholarship support for student-athletes. Janie is also an active member of the Jaybacker Executive Committee.
"Creighton Athletics puts so much time not only into sports, but into each student. There is an expectation of how to perform on the court or on the field, and also in their personal and professional lives," says Janie.
Janie and Harry Hoch's philanthropic support of Creighton Athletics will impact future generations of Bluejay student-athletes to come and will allow the men's basketball program to advance in its mission of recruiting, educating and graduating talented student-athletes while pursuing BIG EAST Conference championships and competing at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics.
"The Hochs truly want to make a difference," says Bruce Rasmussen, McCormick Endowed Athletic Director. "Their commitment assists us in having a dynamic, multi-generational impact on individuals, families, businesses and communities, and we are grateful for their proud leadership."
The Janie & Harry Hoch, Jr. Family Point Guard Endowed Scholarship will be announced at the Creighton vs. Nebraska game on Saturday, December 7. Janie and Harry will be joined by their children: Laura Hoch, of Grand Island, Harry Hoch III, Melissa Hoch Laflin and Michael Hoch, all of Omaha, along with five of their eight grandchildren.
