Rainier Connect, a local provider of Internet, TV and phone services in the South Puget Sound, has selected a recipient of the first annual Arne Haynes Memorial Scholarship. The award was presented to Jacob Hatzinger at the Graham-Kapowsin High School Senior awards ceremony.
The $5,000 scholarship was established in 2012 to support the health of our community and promote the educational development of our local students.
The selected recipient is a shining example of the entrepreneurial spirit needed to succeed in today’s high tech world. Jacob showed an exceptional ability to overcome life challenges, exhibits strong leadership, and a deep understanding of the importance of community service and volunteerism.
The award is in honor of Arne Haynes who successfully led Rainier Connect for 36 years. Arne always had the ability to keep a step ahead of the latest technology. He was the first to retire an operator required for every phone call when he installed an electronic switch that allowed customers to dial each other. He also led Rainier Connect to become one of the first phone companies in Washington State to use digital switching. When Arne retired in 1990, he had grown the company from 300 to more than 1,800 customers.
