Nampa Honors Late Mayor With New Scholarships
Local institutions and the city are providing educational support to the family of the late Mayor Rick Hogaboam.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Philanthropy
The city of Nampa has announced a series of honors for the late Mayor Rick Hogaboam, who passed away in March. Local educational institutions have pledged new scholarships for his five children as part of a community effort to recognize his legacy.
Why it matters
These gifts and renamings serve to memorialize the service of the late mayor, who led the city during early 2026. The collaborative effort highlights a community-wide response to support the family of a public official following his untimely death.
Northwest Nazarene University is providing full tuition scholarships to each of the five Hogaboam children. Additionally, the College of Western Idaho has committed $1,000 scholarships to each of the children.
The players
Rick Hogaboam
He was the former mayor of Nampa who served in the role during the first months of 2026.
Darl Bruner
He is the current Mayor of Nampa who took office in June following the passing of his predecessor.
Northwest Nazarene University
This is a private Christian university located in Nampa that provided full tuition scholarships to the Hogaboam family.
College of Western Idaho
This is a public community college in the Treasure Valley that committed funds to support the children of the late mayor.
The details
During the State of the City address at Ridgevue High School, officials announced the naming of Midway Park baseball fields to Hogaboam Fields and the renaming of Skyview High School's basketball tournament. Mayor Darl Bruner personally initiated the scholarship discussions to assist the family of the former mayor, who died at age 47.
Timeline
January 5, 2026: Rick Hogaboam began his term as mayor.
March 18, 2026: Rick Hogaboam died at age 47.
June 15, 2026: Darl Bruner was sworn in as the new mayor of Nampa.
October 22, 2026: The State of the City address occurred at Ridgevue High School.
Market Landscape
The announcement follows the precedent set by the 2026 State of the City address regarding community recognition programs. This initiative positions local academic institutions as key partners in municipal social responsibility and family support efforts.
These actions serve as a symbolic gesture of community support for a grieving family and do not directly change retail or tax obligations for Nampa residents. The changes to local landmarks and tournament names will be visible to students and families attending events at these facilities.
The takeaway
Community leaders often utilize civic ceremonies to consolidate public mourning into lasting philanthropic legacies for deceased officials. These naming rights and scholarship programs provide a concrete method for organizations to honor individual service in a public-facing way.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to support education in Nampa Philanthropy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Idaho Press.
