The Jessi Pierce Memorial Scholarship was established in 2026 to honor the legacy of Jessi Pierce and to support young women pursuing careers in sports journalism.

Jessi Pierce was a passionate advocate for elevating women in sports media. Raised in Mahtomedi, Minnesota, Jessi attended Iowa State where her love for journalism grew, she served as the Minnesota Wild correspondent for NHL.com for a decade. In 2019, she founded Bardown Beauties, a podcast she later co-hosted with Kirsten Krull. By 2022, Jessi had joined SKOR North as a contributor to Purple Daily and Judd’s Hockey Show, further expanding her impact in the sports community.

Tragically, Jessi and her three children lost their lives in a house fire in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, on March 21, 2026.

Her memorial captured her spirit perfectly: “She enjoyed volunteering at various hockey-related foundations, made time to help others wanting to pursue similar careers, letting them job shadow her, joining their podcasts, or anything to help them.”

In honor of Jessi’s dedication to sports and journalism, SKOR North partnered with the Minnesota Broadcasters Association to create the Jessi Pierce Memorial Scholarship. The fund will award annual scholarships to high school and college-aged women who aspire to careers in sports journalism.