Before Edward Taylor Coombs was the namesake of a nonprofit foundation driven to provide scholarships to top-tier scholars and athletes, he was the neighbor of Kaitlin Gehlhaus.
Even on ordinary days, Edward’s leadership, warm smile, and infectious laugh drew in friends and kid sisters alike. Edward, who was eight years older than Kaitlin, taught her how to tie her shoes. The class of 2018 Hatboro-Horsham High School alum remembers the early lesson fondly and highlighted it as part of her ETC Foundation scholarship essay.
“He was always really nice to me,” Kaitlin said of Edward, who died tragically in 2011 as a rising sophomore at Marist College. “I was always the one that wanted to tag along with the boys.”
Following his death, Kaitlin, throughout her high school years, embodied the Foundation’s motto: “Play Fast, Live Slow.”
“I remember being in high school and wearing the wristband,” she said of the bracelet bearing the powerful words. “It held me up to a standard.”
As a high school senior, winning the ETC Foundation scholarship cemented her passion for the nonprofit’s work.
“It is always in the back of my mind,” she said. “I have to be that example.”
Career strides
Even as a high school student, Kaitlin knew she wanted to be a broadcast journalist. In addition to serving as captain of the Hatters’ field hockey team, Kaitlin immersed herself in her high school’s live streaming program, HHTV, which live streams sports games, concerts, graduations, and school board meetings.
She used the funds from the ETC Foundation scholarship to help cover the cost of textbooks at Pennsylvania State University, where she graduated in 2022 with a Broadcast Journalism and Sports Studies degree.
While in school, she worked with the Big Ten Network as a sideline reporter and served as the in-venue host for the Penn State Men’s Ice Hockey team. Following college, she relocated to New England and soon landed a position working on-air as a sideline reporter for the New England Sports Network and ESPN+. Through these roles she served as a stage manager for the Boston Red Sox. She also did sideline reporting for the Cape Cod Baseball League.
A brief sales and marketing position at a Fox affiliate soon led to her current position as a multi-media journalist at ABC6 in Providence, Rhode Island. She began a two-year contract at the station in May 2023.
“We do everything from making the calls to doing the interviews,” she said of her general assignment reporting role. “Editing, writing, and getting our scripts approved.”
Kaitlin has also had the opportunity to fill in for the TV news anchor, a position she notes is more of a “controlled environment” in that she does not have to stand out in the rain, snow, or heat.
She was most excited about her coverage of the Boston Celtics in the NBA playoffs, as well as a recent interview with the high school varsity basketball coach for Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. When Mazzulla coached his first game for the Celtics, he asked his high school basketball coach to attend.
“It’s been really cool to learn about somebody who has the ultimate spotlight on him,” Kaitlin said. “He grew up in an area that I cover. I’m rooting for this person. I hope that he wins.”
And while as a general assignment reporter Kaitlin covers developing, breaking news and offbeat human interest segments, “I naturally get excited about sports coverage because it’s what I did at Penn State,” she said.
Future goals
Ideally, her dream reporting job would be equal parts anchor and a journalist who reports from the field.
“There’s a rush that comes with that,” she noted. “It’s fun being with the people.”
Still, she loves learning about the people, places, and history in the New England area.
“I couldn’t be happier,” she said. “I learn something new everyday and that’s part of the job.”
Looking ahead, Kaitlin would love to jump to a Boston TV station next. Of course, the ultimate goal would be to return to her Philadelphia roots.
“6ABC Action News has always been our family favorite,” she said. “I would love when I’m a bit older … if I could be offered some great opportunity In Philadelphia. One hundred percent, I wouldn’t even flinch. I would love to come home.”
Empowering future generations
Kaitlin makes a point to return to Horsham each summer for the ETC Foundation’s scholarship awards dinner. She first attended the event in 2018 as a graduating senior.
Now, she attends as a role model for others lucky enough to receive the support of the Edward Taylor Coombs Foundation. She shares her story and talks about Edward and the legacy his parents and the Foundation have continued to grow.
“I really don’t get a lot of time off work, and I’m making the time to do this because that’s how much it means to me,” she said. “To see what they’ve done and what they’re teaching people and what their foundation is about is amazing.”
