JUDA - The Tyler Pierce Memorial Scholarship will be available this spring for Juda High School graduates.
The school board approved the scholarship criteria at a meeting Wednesday, Dec. 14.
The $250 scholarship recipient must have at least a 3.0 grade point average, be a two-year varsity award-winner in sports and active in community-based services, and prepared to attend a four-year college.
Tyler Jacob Pierce, 20, the son of John and Kathleen (Klawiter) Pierce, Juda, died March 28, 2011, from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. He was a 2009 graduate of Juda High School and a sophomore at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at the time of his death. Pierce excelled in football, basketball and baseball.
Superintendent Phillip Updike said Friday that he was happy to see the scholarship issue worked out, "and basically we're moving forward."
The family members say they are still working on details of a donation, but wanted the scholarship ready for the upcoming graduating class.
In August, controversy surrounded a $2,000 donation to the school from the family and classmates' attempt to plant a tree in Tyler's memory on the school grounds, both of which the donors say were initially refused by school administrators because of the manner of Pierce's death.
Family and friends held the first Tyler J. Pierce Memorial Tournament Aug. 5 to 7 at Juda Community Park to raise money for the donation. The three-day event featured softball, volleyball and kickball tournaments, as well as a battle of the bands, kids' activities and concessions.
The tree was planted at the Juda Community Park near the ball diamond. The school board began reviewing its district policy in anticipation of the donation, which has not been officially offered yet.
-Tere Dunlap
The school board approved the scholarship criteria at a meeting Wednesday, Dec. 14.
The $250 scholarship recipient must have at least a 3.0 grade point average, be a two-year varsity award-winner in sports and active in community-based services, and prepared to attend a four-year college.
Tyler Jacob Pierce, 20, the son of John and Kathleen (Klawiter) Pierce, Juda, died March 28, 2011, from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. He was a 2009 graduate of Juda High School and a sophomore at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at the time of his death. Pierce excelled in football, basketball and baseball.
Superintendent Phillip Updike said Friday that he was happy to see the scholarship issue worked out, "and basically we're moving forward."
The family members say they are still working on details of a donation, but wanted the scholarship ready for the upcoming graduating class.
In August, controversy surrounded a $2,000 donation to the school from the family and classmates' attempt to plant a tree in Tyler's memory on the school grounds, both of which the donors say were initially refused by school administrators because of the manner of Pierce's death.
Family and friends held the first Tyler J. Pierce Memorial Tournament Aug. 5 to 7 at Juda Community Park to raise money for the donation. The three-day event featured softball, volleyball and kickball tournaments, as well as a battle of the bands, kids' activities and concessions.
The tree was planted at the Juda Community Park near the ball diamond. The school board began reviewing its district policy in anticipation of the donation, which has not been officially offered yet.
-Tere Dunlap