LEXINGTON, Ky. - This week thousands of students will return to the classroom for the first week of classes in Kentucky.

The city of Lexington hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday, celebrating the opening of it's newest elementary school that is named in honor of the Lexington Fire Department's, Lieutenant Brenda Cowan.

Cowan, was a firefighter on Engine 18 and was Lexington’s first black female firefighter and served for 12 years before she was killed in the line of duty, 15 years ago.

During Monday's ceremony, many people shared that Cowan was a role model and mentor to many in the Lexington community.

According to Women in the Fire Service, Lt. Cowan is the first black female career firefighter in the nation ever to die in the line of duty.

Brenda Cowan Elementary officially opens on Wednesday and about 425 students are enrolled, but the school expects those numbers to grow to 700, in the future.

The new elementary school is located at 4801 Athens Boonesboro Road (between Jacobson Park and I-75).