BCEF Announces Scholarship Recipients

Eleven students received scholarships.

(Batesville, Ind.) - The Batesville Community Education Foundation (BCEF) is pleased to announce the recipients of its scholarships to members of the Batesville High School (BHS) Class of 2025. These scholarship awards totaled $42,000, according to BCEF executive director Anne Wilson. Scholarship recipients are selected by a committee consisting of two BCEF board members, the BHS principal, and two community members.

New to BCEF this year is the Randy Smith Scholarship. Smith, a 1975 BHS alumnus, established the new scholarship with the foundation last fall to support students attending college. A one-time $5,000 scholarship was awarded to Kaylynn Bedel. In addition, a second scholarship of $5,000, renewable for up to three additional years, was awarded to Averi Jones.

BCEF’s other top scholarship, also worth $5,000 each to five recipients, is the James E. Fritsch Memorial Scholarship. BHS alumnus Fritsch left a sum of money upon his passing to assist students who are pursuing post-secondary study. This year’s recipients included Lucy Abplanalp, Sarah Bedel, Corrine Ferguson, Veronica King, and Leanne Ludwig.

The Mary C. Horstman Scholarship was established from money donated to BCEF by Horstman, who wished for the funds to be used to assist students with post-secondary expenses. A $1,000 scholarship was awarded to each of the following BHS graduates: Alex Baumer, Shanna Smith, and Eva Struewing.

The foundation also awarded the Bobbie Brandes Memorial Scholarship, named in honor of Mrs. Roberta “Bobbie” Brandes, who served as the administrative assistant to the principal of Batesville High School for nearly 40 years. This scholarship was established by her family after her passing in 2021 as a way to continue her legacy of impacting students. A $3,000 scholarship was awarded to Jacob Chapman.

Finally, the Ron Raver Memorial Scholarship was established in the memory of the 1958 graduate of BHS who was also a long-time teacher and coach of basketball, cross-country, and track at the high school. The $1,000 scholarship was awarded to Kaylynn Bedel.

The Batesville Community Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was established to provide additional funding for innovative learning opportunities that go beyond the basics in academics, athletics, and the arts at the Batesville Community School Corporation (BCSC), enhancing the educational environment for all of its students. To date, BCEF has awarded more than $682,000 in grants and programs to BCSC and nearly $225,000 in scholarships to BHS graduates. More information about BCEF may be found online at BatesvilleEducationFoundation.org or by emailing Wilson at awilson@batesville.k12.in.us.