Senior Scribes Scholarship Fund
Biddlestones donate first scholarship check of 2013 

Darrell and Debbie Biddlestone recently donated the first SSSF full scholarship check of 2013 with Shawnee Prairie as the background drop. This is the third year the Biddlestones have provided a full scholarship donation to a deserving Darke County teen going into a communications-related field. 

The Shawnee Prairie tradition began in 2011 when the Biddlestones decided to make the annual donation in honor of Ralph “Fred” Wright, who passed away in 2006. Wright’s widow, Donna Kay Wright, was a volunteer at Shawnee Prairie at the time and was able to participate in the presentation. 

The 2011 Ralph “Fred” Wright Memorial Scholarship went to Margaret Prakel, a Versailles High School graduate majoring in Communications at Notre Dame. 

The 2012 scholarship was presented to Jessica Transue, a Greenville High School graduate planning to attend Edison Community College. Jessica’s communications field was photography and the Internet. 

In establishing the annual scholarship donation, Biddlestone said that it was “his turn” to give back to the community that had been so good to him, and he couldn’t think of a better person to honor with the fund than Fred Wright, a former DP&L employee working in its commercial division. 

“He did so many things to support this community,” Biddlestone said. “He was a mentor – not just to me – but to many businesses just getting started.” 

Since its inception in 2009, the Senior Scribes Scholarship Fund has awarded scholarships and other assistance totaling nearly $24,000 to 20 students from six Darke County school districts, including one student who was home schooled.