Kristin Bottger Memorial Scholarship

Kristin graduated with honors from Pius X in 1999. She was the recipient of a full-ride scholarship to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). At UNL, she was an “A” student and studied accounting and finance. She was killed in an automobile accident in February 2003. She would have been married in June and graduated from college in August of that same year.

According to her parents, Kristin blossomed in her faith life while at Pius X. Whenever possible, she attended daily Mass. She continued her faith in college by joining the Newman Center at UNL. While at Pius X, she attended a National Walk for Life in Washington, D.C. and prayed at Planned Parenthood. She was involved in the Pius Right to Life Club, yearbook staff, Students Organized Against Drugs and Alcohol (SOADA) Organization and was a pitcher for the softball team. She enjoyed rollerblading, tennis, racquetball and being surrounded by many friends. She also enjoyed bargain shopping and going to garage sales.

At the time of her death, she had three jobs. She spent time working with an autistic cousin, had an internship with KPMG Accounting and worked at the Lincoln Racquet Club, who now hosts a benefit tournament in Kristin’s memory each February.

Kristin’s parents established this scholarship because attending Pius X had such a strong impact on Kristin’s spiritual life.

Excerpts from student thank you letters

Past awardees share how receiving the scholarship made an impact in their lives:

“Thank you so much for this scholarship, this is going to help my family so much. We have been struggling with paying some planned and unplanned expenses. For example, I had to have nose and sinus surgery, and just recently had to have my wisdom teeth removed. When we received the announcement about the scholarship in the mail we were ecstatic….I am competing in cross country this year at Pius. In my free time I love to work out and work on my spiritual and personal growth. When I graduate, I want to enlist in the military and make a career out of it. I have many things I want to do in my lifetime and by receiving financial help for my education, I am getting closer to becoming the person I want to be. I want to say one last thank you for what is a major blessing for my family.”

“I want to thank you for the scholarship you have given me and my family…I am excited to start high school but I’m also nervous because I know that it will be a lot different than grade school. After I graduate from Pius, I want to go to UNMC and study to become a physical therapist….Both of my parents did not have the opportunity to finish college, so going to college is a dream of mine.”