Mike and Mary Bottcher Family Endowed Scholarship

After Mark Von Ruden passed away in 2013 due to complications of Leukemia, his family and friends wanted a special way to honor his life and continue his heart to help others succeed. The group thought a poker run on the Mississippi was the perfect way to remember Mark and his love of the river while raising funds to support area needs that mattered to him. Each year the event brings a multitude of people to participate in “drawing” their cards at various river islands to end with the best poker hand. The proceeds of the event established the Mark “Rudy” Von Ruden Endowed Scholarship at Western.

Mark’s sister, Mary (Von Ruden) Bottcher, a 1984 Western Marketing alumna, and her husband, Dr. Mike Bottcher naturally became a part of the fundraising efforts.

The couple attended the President’s Reception, an annual event in April that honors scholarship recipients and donors, and heard the compelling student stories and the dramatic impact of a scholarship. They learned about the barriers students face such as daycare expenses, medical bills, and homelessness while trying to obtain a better life. The Bottchers wanted to do more to help and decided to establish the Mike and Mary Bottcher Family Endowment to assist a student facing a difficult situation.

Thanks to Rudy’s legacy and the Bottcher family initiative, financial barriers will be reduced and success will be more achievable for so many students, now and throughout the future!