BCEF Supports BHS Students for Study Abroad Program

Front row, left to right are Batesville Community Education Foundation executive director Anne Wilson, students Cole Rippetoe, Ethan Rahschulte, Zachary Frye, James Rowland, and Sophia Hohenstein. Back row, left to right: Samuel Richardson, Tyler Hoff, Cassius Myers, Jonathan Moody, Grace Walter, and Matthew Schrand. (Provided Photo)

(Batesville, IN) – The Batesville Community Education Foundation (BCEF) has donated $2,000 to the Indiana University Honors Program in Foreign Language (IUHPFL) from its Andy Koors Legacy Fund to support 11 Batesville High School (BHS) students who are studying abroad this summer, announced executive director Anne Wilson.

These students qualified for the IUHPFL, which sends high schoolers to other countries for about a month to further their study of a foreign language by being immersed in another culture. During the program, students pledge to speak only the host language during their entire stay.

The BCEF board of directors created the Andy Koors Legacy Fund in honor of the former BHS German teacher who passed away unexpectedly in 2017, using it to promote initiatives that foundation board members believe reflect the values displayed by Koors during his life, such as his dedication to the study of foreign languages and support of student endeavors.

To date, BCEF has awarded more than $27,000 in study abroad sponsorships for BHS students.

Students participating in the 2025 IUHPFL group from BHS are Zachary Frye, Tyler Hoff, Sophia Hohenstein, Jonathan Moody, Cassius Myers, Ethan Rahschulte, Samuel Richardson, Cole Rippetoe, James Rowland, Matthew Schrand, and Grace Walter.

The 11 students will share the donation from BCEF evenly, applying the funds to their required program fees.

“We are proud to continue this program in Herr Koors’ memory and look forward to hearing about these students’ experiences when they return,” Wilson said. “We want to thank the local Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #1130, for contributing $1,000 toward our study abroad donation this year.”

Donations to the BCEF Andy Koors Legacy Fund are always being accepted.

Information about the fund and the donation portal can be found on the BCEF website.

Questions may be directed to Wilson at awilson@batesville.k12.in.us.

(Batesville Community Education Foundation press release)