BCEF to Award $42,000 in Scholarships to Batesville HS Grads

BCEF is now accepting applications for its five scholarships to benefit Batesville HS graduates.

(Batesville, Ind.) - The Batesville Community Education Foundation (BCEF) is now accepting applications for its five scholarships to benefit Batesville High School (BHS) graduates, announced BCEF executive director Anne Wilson. In total, $42,000 will be awarded by the nonprofit partner to the Batesville Community School Corporation (BCSC). All five scholarships use one common application available on the BCEF website.

One $1,000 non-renewable scholarship will be awarded in 2025 from the Ron Raver Memorial Scholarship Fund. Applicants must be BHS graduating students in the top 20% of their class and have participated in basketball, cross country, or track. In addition, applicants should be able to demonstrate that they have the following qualities and characteristics that Coach Raver displayed: actively involved in school, church, and community, and have proven determination and perseverance.

One 2025 graduate will be awarded the $3,000 non-renewable Bobbie Brandes Memorial Scholarship. BHS graduates in the top 20% of the class qualify for this scholarship. Special consideration will be given to those applicants who meet any of the following criteria: are first-generation college-bound; have demonstrated leadership in school organizations or sports teams; are pursuing a career in education or have demonstrated civic and community engagement.

In addition to the Raver and Brandes scholarships, the Mary C. Horstman Memorial Scholarship will again be awarded by BCEF. As in previous years, the non-renewable Horstman scholarship is available to all BHS graduates pursuing any type of additional education, including trade school. Horstman applicants who have a connection to agriculture or are pursuing a trade will receive special consideration but are not guaranteed selection. Three $1,000 scholarships will be awarded.

The fourth memorial scholarship, named for alumnus James E. Fritsch, will remain at five $5,000 recipients in 2025, as in previous years. The Fritsch scholarship requires applicants to be in the top 20% of the graduating class. An essay is required, as it is for several of the other scholarships.

A new scholarship offered by BCEF this year is the Randy Smith Scholarship, made possible by the generous, ongoing support of this alumnus. For 2025 only, one $5,000 non-renewable scholarship will be awarded, as well as one $5,000 scholarship with renewal potential for up to three additional years. Applicants must be in the top 20% of the class, with those who are first-generation college-bound receiving special consideration. Award amounts will be adjusted in 2026.

The BCEF common application, instructions, and details regarding all the scholarships may be found on the organization’s website at http://batesvilleeducationfoundation.org/programs/scholarships/. Scholarship applications are due to the foundation no later than 4:00 PM on February 28. Questions may be directed to Wilson at awilson@batesville.k12.in.us.