When beloved Harrison High School math teacher Kim Escoe Watson passed away in 2024, her colleagues found a powerful way to honor her legacy: a scholarship in her name. Today, the Heart of a Hoya Scholarship, created through Cobb Community Foundation, is helping students persevere and thrive—just like Ms. Watson helped them do for over 30 years.
When Kim Watson began teaching math at Harrison High School in 1991, she helped lay the foundation of a school community that would grow to thrive—and inspire. Over the next three decades, she became a beloved figure among students and colleagues alike, known not only for her knowledge but for her warmth, patience, and deep compassion.
Even after retiring in 2020, Kim’s impact remained. And now, even in her passing, it continues.
Following her death in 2024 after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer, Kim’s fellow teachers and the Harrison High School community came together to honor her memory in the most meaningful way: by helping students—just as she always had. The Kim Escoe Watson Heart of a Hoya Memorial Scholarship was created to carry forward her legacy of encouragement and perseverance.
Each year, a $2,000 scholarship will be awarded to a Harrison High School student who exemplifies the values Kim championed: deep involvement in the school community and resilience in the face of life’s challenges.
This scholarship is more than a gift. It’s a tribute to a life well-lived and a beacon of support for future generations. As of 2024, more than $1 million in scholarships have been awarded by funds held at Cobb Community Foundation—supporting over 200 students in their pursuit of higher education.
The Heart of a Hoya Scholarship reminds us that the most powerful legacies are built not just in classrooms, but in hearts—and that with a little planning and a lot of love, we can continue making a difference long after we’re gone.
