CORPUS CHRISTI – Kaden Kolle of Victoria East High School is the 2022 recipient of the Matt Beveridge Award, given annually to a high school baseball senior student-athlete who exemplifies character, courage, leadership, and spirit.
Bound for the United States Air Force Academy, Kolle will be honored prior to Thursday’s game between the Hooks and San Antonio Missions at Whataburger Field. The Matt Beveridge Award comes with a $1,000 scholarship from Mrs Baird’s.
With a 4.0 grade-point average, Kolle placed third in his class at Victoria East. While earning a top-5 ranking for eight consecutive years, the pitcher and corner infielder was an academic all-district selection in 2020 and 2021. Kolle also served as National Honor Society President and Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society Vice President in each of the past two years.
A three-year baseball letterwinner at Victoria East, Kolle was the Titan’s team captain in 2021 and 2022.
Kolle, a member of Parkway Baptist Church, has volunteered at Christ’s Kitchen in Victoria, Marine Toys for Tots, Food Bank at the Golden Crescent, and at Victoria’s annual Autism Awareness Walk. Also, for the past three years, he has worked with the Keep Victoria Beautiful initiative on neighborhood cleanup efforts in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.
As part of Parkway’s “The Crew” student leadership program, Kaden has undertaken mission trips to Brownsville, San Angelo, and Dallas. He has also lent time at little league camps and tryouts.
“Whether it's an 0-for-4 or 4-for-4 game, a win or a loss, Kaden displays a certain passion, humbleness and thankfulness that is contagious to our team, school and community,” his dad and Titans head baseball coach Wes Kolle said.
The Matt Beveridge Award was established in 2009 to honor the life and legacy of one of the Coastal Bend's most beloved and respected high school athletes. Following his junior year, Matt was diagnosed with cancer. Through two years of treatment, Matt showed tremendous courage battling the disease, inspiring everyone around him.