Columbia College honors fallen marine with scholarship in her name
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo exemplified the phrase "service and sacrifice" until the end. Pichardo was an online student at Columbia College who gave her life serving in the Marines.
Veterans United Foundation endowed $50,000 to Columbia College to start a scholarship in her name. The scholarship was announced at spring graduation ceremonies when Pichardo's mother and sister accepted her posthumous degree in social services.
Pichardo was one of 13 Americans who lost their lives in the Kabul airport suicide bombing of August 2021. Her body was returned to her family on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the event that started the United State's involvement in the war in which Pichardo ultimately died.
The scholarship has not been presented yet. Half of the $50,000 will be awarded to up to 10 students in 2023. The other $25,000 will endow the scholarship for years to come.
Rob Boone, associate vice president of Columbia College's College of Military, said when he and other staff heard Pichardo's story, they knew they had to do something to memorialize her.
"We understand the sacrifices those in our military service make, but when someone makes the ultimate sacrifice in the way that she did, we want to make sure we honor her and her legacy lives on because its the right thing to do," Boone said.
A picture of Pichardo hangs proudly in Columbia College's military building to remind anyone who enters of her sacrifice and the sacrifice of many others.
"You know, her mother basically said, 'Please don't let her memory go away,'" Boone said. "And I said, 'Well she's now basically shrined forever in the house here.' Anyone who comes up these stairs and she's the picture of Sgt. Rosario Pichardo will ask that question. Anyone who gets her scholarship, we will let them know of her sacrifice and who she was."
With 47% of its student body military-connected, Columbia College ranks third in its category for being the most military-friendly.
