Kishen Wins Cashell Family Impact Scholarship

CASCADE CONFERENCE PRESS RELEASE

EUGENE, Ore. – Bushnell senior Men’s Track & Field student-athlete Ty Kishen has been announced as the male recipient of the Cashell Family Impact Scholarship, awarded by the Cascade Collegiate Conference and announced on Wednesday

Established in 2023 with a gift from Robert (CCC commissioner), Heather and Elizabeth Cashell, the fund provides two scholarships awarded annually to one female and one male from among the student-athletes attending CCC schools who have displayed a significant and positive “impact” on their respective campuses. The announcement for the award was moved up for the 2025-2026 school year to January, allowing seniors to be nominated to receive the honor and have their scholarship applied to their schooling during the spring semester.

Kishen is the third Beacon to win the prestigious award, joining the two 2025 winners in Sayer Pescosolido (Cross Country/Track) and Gracie Hamilton (Softball).

During his career, Kishen has developed into a significant contributor on his team, in the Bushnell athletic department, on campus, and in the community.

He serves as a team captain and peer mentor. When Coach Kyle Will first took the reigns of the program, one of the first things he implemented was a peer mentor program, pairing an upperclassman with a freshman (or multiple freshmen). Kishen was more than excited to be asked as a junior to be a mentor and he has done an amazing job in the program for two years. They are asked to check with their mentee at least once every two weeks either by phone or in person, building a relationship that allows the freshmen someone to count on for anything from guidance in school, navigating roommate issues, and growing in their faith.

Coach Will said, “Kishen has been an amazing mentor for two years, taking on the role a second time this year despite being busier as he prepares to graduate.  He is a fantastic young man and is truly a great leader and role model on the team.”

Additionally, Kishen provides leadership for the team’s study hall time, sit in study hall to help check teammates in and to hold them accountable while they are working. He has again willingly stepped up in that role both last year and again this year.  He never hesitates to go out of his way to help his team be better. He is a consistent teammate, working Duck and Beaver football games to help raise money for our program and again is a leader in terms of getting teammates to do the same.

The Men’s Track & Field team was recently honored as the CCC and NAIA Male Team of Character for the 2024-2025 school year, and this was in large part due to the leadership efforts of Ty. The team easily beat the athletic department goal to average over 20 hours of community service per athlete as the team volunteers to serve with multiple organizations. This included Embrace the Community Day, the Food for Lane County canned food drive, and our Christmas Adopt-a-Family.

On the competitive side, Kishen is part of Bushnell’s jumpers crew, which has earned conference-wide recognition for its sportsmanship. The group regularly leads prayers for competitors, energizes crowds for all athletes, and intentionally encourages fellow competitors throughout meets.

“Ty embodies what it means to be a man of character,” said teammate Sayer Pescosolido. “He chooses to lead every moment, treats everyone with respect, and inspires those around him to be better. Our team culture and the recognition we’ve received would not be possible without his influence.”