Waupun -
A scholarship was announced at Waupun Area High school Thursday that will honor U.S. Army Private First Class Rachel Bosveld, who graduated from the school in 2002 and was the first woman from Wisconsin killed in the Iraq war nine years ago.
Beginning next spring, the $1000 Rachel Bosveld Scholarship of Honor will go to a graduating senior following in her footsteps.
The award remembers Bosveld's service, dedication and sacrifice to her country.
Rachel's mother, Mary Bosveld, says the award is part of remembering her daughter's legacy.
"Rachel was a very energetic, happy go lucky, giving person and I think her thoughts were always helping other people in any situation and always those, maybe who were less fortunate," she said.
Bosveld was killed while serving in the Iraq war in 2003 just months after enlisting in the military.
The local Brian LaViolette scholarship foundation, which honors a graduating senior planning to enlist in the military or seek a career in public safety or community service created the award.
Bob Nueske, who is a friend of the Bosveld's, helped make Rachel's scholarship possible at her former high school.
"Having service to our country is something that is really important. And, by having that brought here to Waupun where Rachel graduated we thought was something we wanted to keep moving forward with," Nueske said.
Bosveld's family and friends plan to hand out the first of the scholarships and medals during the school's awards at the end of the school year.
"Our scholarship night in May, we give about $700,000 worth of scholarships and about $200,000 are local scholarships," said Jeff Finstad, Waupun Area High School principal said. "For a community this small, to rally around and do that is just phenomenal and this is just one more example."
