Wayne State College’s softball team welcomed past players, other athletes and WSC students to the WSC softball complex Monday night to remember former player Kaiti Williams, who passed away a month ago at 22.

The Wildcats’ senior class was in charge for organizing the remembrance, but senior Shelby Wobken asked the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) for help, which they were happy to provide.

“SAAC representatives, SAAC advisors, athletic department and the softball coaches were willing to do anything and buy whatever was needed to make this night a success,” Wobken said.

SAAC bought the 52 balloons that were released during the ceremony.

“The 52 balloons stood for her record of most doubles in a career,” senior Sarah Macias said. “The black and yellow balloons are Wayne’s colors and the purple balloons were used because purple was her favorite color.”

Speakers at the remembrance included WSC sports information director Mike Grosz, Journey Christian Church College Pastor Justin Raulston and senior softball players Lexie Loos and Sam O’Brien.

“We knew Justin would do a great job,” Wobken said. “He knew Kaiti very well with all her activity at Journey Church.”

During the speeches, Loos and O’Brien announced that the softball team will be retiring Williams’ number (14). They also announced that there will be a banner in her honor placed in right field, which was the position Williams’ played her junior and senior years.

Throughout her career as a WSC athlete, Williams never missed a game, starting all but two of 203 games in four seasons.

Her dedication to the sport throughout the years will be forever remembered in the record books when, in her senior season, she became the all-time WSC softball leader in career doubles with 52 and also the all-time RBI leader, finishing her career with 146.

Williams also holds the record in total bases with 380 and was just five hits short of being the career leader in hits with 252, a record that is currently held by Amy Sandstorm, who has 257 hits.

Williams not only worked hard on the field, but also in the classroom. She was named to the Capital One Academic All-District VII first team as a junior with a 3.73 GPA. She was also a three-time selectionto the NSIC All-Academic Team.

In honor of Williams, there is a scholarship being created in her memory.

Williams spent a short period of time in Africa on a Summer Project mission’s trip, and this scholarship will carry on her legacy and passion of reaching the world with the Gospel.

The Kaiti Williams Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to current Wayne State students who are planning to go on Summer Project mission trips through Campus Crusade.

All money given will go to provide scholarships to help send students all over the world and to change lives.

Donations for the scholarship can be made in the softball office (located in Nat 218D) and all checks can be made out to Journey Christian Church. There is also the option to donate online by going to journeychristianonling.org and clicking the “give online” tab. Click on the “give without an account” option, and you can place the amount on the “Kaiti Williams memorial scholarship” tab.