Three years after Rachel Clementz's death, her family and community are continuing to honor her through a scholarship fund rooted in something that played an important role in her own life: bowling.
A fundraiser for the Rachel Clementz Memorial Scholarship Fund will be held Friday, Aug. 28, at Arcadia Family Fun Center, bringing people together for an evening of bowling while raising money to continue the scholarship established in her memory.
Rachel died in June 2023. Her family established the scholarship fund during the following school year as a way to carry forward a legacy they describe as one of persistence.
Bowling was an important part of Rachel's life, but it wasn't her only interest. Her family remembers someone who loved helping her Uncle Bob on his farm and cherished her dog, Cassie Jo.
She also enjoyed bowling — particularly, her family joked, when she was bowling well.
Her dedication to the sport eventually helped open the door to college.
Rachel earned a bowling scholarship to attend Lindenwood University, where the combination of her athletic scholarship and academic achievements significantly reduced the cost of her education. She also developed close friendships during her time in college.
Her family remembers the college-selection process as providing one particularly fitting example of Rachel's competitive personality.
During college visits, the family toured both Wichita State University and Lindenwood University. Rachel initially considered Wichita State but ultimately decided Lindenwood was where she wanted to be.
There was one problem with Wichita State, as far as Rachel was concerned: its bowling program had finished No. 1 the previous year.
Rachel chose Lindenwood.
Within two weeks, her family recalled, Lindenwood had clinched the No. 1 ranking for that year.
It's a story her family can laugh about now, but it also captures some of what they hope people remember about Rachel — her determination, competitiveness and willingness to pursue something important to her.
That persistence now lives on through a scholarship intended to help other students pursue their own goals.
The Aug. 28 fundraiser at Arcadia is designed to help ensure that support continues.
The evening will center around bowling and remembering Rachel, with proceeds going toward keeping the memorial scholarship available for future students.
For Rachel's family, the scholarship is about more than preserving her name.
It carries forward the qualities that helped Rachel turn her own academic work and love of bowling into an opportunity to attend college — and gives another student an opportunity to take the next step toward a future of their own.
The Rachel Clementz Memorial Scholarship Fund fundraiser will be held Aug. 28 at Arcadia Family Fun Center. Proceeds will support the continuation of the scholarship established in Rachel's memory.