Don Hadley Academic Award

As part of it's efforts to support education, literacy, and youth development, Hack Away at Hunger and Poverty administers the Don Hadley Academic Award. This $500 scholarship is given every spring to the senior on the Exeter High School golf team that has the highest grade point average. The award is funded by private contributions.

The 2026 Hadley Academic Award has been awarded to Shaun Rathman. In addition to golf, Shaun’s high school activities included participation in the model United Nations program and the Science Olympiad. Shaun was a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist. He was also the Exeter Eagle mascot at football games.

Shaun will attend Kutztown University with a major in astrophysics. He is interested in extrasolar planetary studies.

From left, Exeter HS golf coach Drew Eckel with 2026 Hadley award recipient Shawn Rathman and retired Exeter golf coach Don Hadley.

Coach Don Hadley

The Hadley Academic Award was established in 2017, but in 2023 the award was renamed after Don Hadley, a long-time Exeter educator and coach. Don taught in the Exeter School District for 27 years at the elementary and junior high levels, retiring in 2013. In addition, he served as the high school golf coach for 16 years, retiring in 2021, and served on Exeter’s basketball staff for 15 years as assistant and head coach. Don was assistant coach for Exeter’s 1973-74 boys basketball team that was inducted into the Exeter Athletic Hall of Fame with that team. Don is a graduate of Kutztown University, earning a B.S. in education. In addition to his career in education, Don was a sales representative with the Pitney Bowes Corporation for 13 years.

Recipients of the Hadley Academic Award are shown below.