Middleton Educator Honors Late Wife With Idaho Student Scholarship Foundation
A retired Canyon County school superintendent has channeled the grief of losing his wife into a lasting tribute for Idaho students. Rich Bauscher, who served as superintendent of the Middleton School District before retiring in 2016, joined his three children to establish the LiNae Bauscher Foundation — a scholarship program for Idaho high school seniors who plan to attend an in-state college or university.
A Family’s Response to Loss
LiNae Bauscher passed away in 2024 after a battle with ALS. Her diagnosis came in July 2023, following months of unexplained throat pain. What the family initially hoped was a minor condition turned out to be the devastating neurological disease, with doctors estimating she had roughly 15 months to live. Rich Bauscher, now 73, said his wife took the news with more composure than the rest of the family. Before her illness, LiNae was a fixture at her grandchildren’s sports events and school activities.
The decision to honor her through education was a natural one. “We made the decision that LiNae would like to honor education,” Rich Bauscher said. “She was born and raised in Idaho, so we decided it would be given to Idaho kids.”
Rich Bauscher had dedicated decades to Idaho public education — leading both the Kimberly and Middleton school districts during his career. His children — Mistie, 44, Matthew, 41, and Megan, 35 — shared the drive to carry their mother’s memory forward in a meaningful way.
From Grief to a 501(c)(3)
Getting the foundation off the ground required navigating the legal and financial complexities of nonprofit status. That’s where son Matthew Bauscher stepped in. Drawing on his background in finance and real estate, Matthew registered the LiNae Bauscher Foundation as a 501(c)(3) organization about a year after his mother’s passing — and surprised his father and sisters with a check the grandchildren helped present. “Everybody got really emotional knowing mom would have loved that,” Matthew said.
The foundation gathered more than $40,000 from 25 donors in under seven months, a total that has already funded 11 scholarship recipients. When the family opened applications on April 1, nearly 100 submissions arrived by month’s end. The Bauscher family interviewed 11 finalists, asking questions about GPA, extracurricular involvement, and college plans — but the bar went deeper than academics.
Applicants were expected to have researched ALS and LiNae Bauscher’s life personally. One question centered on her favorite song, the Grammy-winning Tim McGraw track “Humble and Kind.” Rich Bauscher asked finalists to connect that song’s message to real moments in their own lives. “I asked for an example of where they would show how they use humble and kind,” he said.
Top Recipient Surprises at School
Charli Russell, an 18-year-old senior at Rocky Mountain High School in Meridian, emerged as the foundation’s top scholarship recipient. Student body president, volleyball team captain, and a 4.0 student, Russell impressed the family from the first moment of her interview. “Charli was really outgoing, and her interview was completely top notch from start to finish,” Rich Bauscher said.
The Bauscher family surprised Russell at her school with a $10,000 check directed toward Boise State University — an amount expected to cover her first two years of tuition. The moment was characteristic of the foundation’s hands-on, personal approach to giving.
What Comes Next for the LiNae Bauscher Foundation
The Bauscher family intends to offer scholarships on an annual basis, keeping the focus on Idaho students choosing to remain in-state for their education. Matthew Bauscher framed it as a practical investment in Idaho’s future. “Hopefully they have the skills that they can live in Idaho, and they’re not forced out because of cost of living and lack of opportunities,” he said.
Rich Bauscher also sees the application and interview process as a teaching tool in itself — one that prepares young people for the professional world. His advice to future applicants: prepare thoroughly, because the same discipline required to win a scholarship is what employers expect in job interviews.
For Canyon County families who value education, community, and the agricultural and civic traditions that define the Treasure Valley, the LiNae Bauscher Foundation reflects those principles in action. For more on Idaho education and community news, visit Idaho News. Those interested in learning more about Middleton’s broader community landscape may also enjoy reading about America’s largest war museum, located right here in Nampa.