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Retired Businessman Establishes Scholarship in Memory of His Wife's Persistence and Spirit
RELEASED: Sept. 9, 2005
EAU CLAIRE — The determined spirit of a successful teacher and businesswoman who graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1969 is being memorialized by her husband through the creation of a scholarship in her name.
Patricia Arts Rinaldi, who began her UW-Eau Claire college career at age 37 and earned a bachelor's degree in business education, died of cancer in 1999. Her husband, Emil Rinaldi, has endowed a fund to create the annual Patricia Arts Rinaldi Memorial Scholarship.
The scholarship will be awarded to an outstanding education major who graduated from a Wisconsin high school and demonstrates a passion for setting goals and persisting, sometimes through obstacles, on the path toward reaching a dream. Recipients must have financial need and students majoring in business education will receive first consideration.
Patricia Rinaldi, a Ladysmith native, married Emil when she was18 and then started her family. She later enrolled at UW-Eau Claire as a nontraditional student, setting a goal of earning a bachelor's degree in education. After graduating, she taught at Eau Claire Memorial High School for two years and then entered into business with her husband. She continued a successful partnership with her husband until her death.
"It is an honor to memorialize the essence of Patricia's character with this scholarship," said Carole Halberg, president of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation. "Her determination and perseverance to achieve an education and successful career will be emulated by the students who receive this award in the future. What a wonderful memorial to Patricia."
The Rinaldi gift is recognized as a contribution to Fulfilling the Promise of Excellence, the UW-Eau Claire Foundation's ongoing comprehensive campaign to benefit UW-Eau Claire's people and programs.
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