MCKIBBEN FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

The McKibben Scholarship fund was initially established by the generous donations of many individuals in remembrance of Kenneth Darrell McKibben.  Ken was born on December 24, 1935 in Dupont, Ohio and grew up in the Continental, Ohio area.  He was a 1953 graduate of Continental High School and a 1957 graduate of General Motors Institute with a degree in Industrial Engineering where he participated in the cooperative education program.  His career included over 15 years at The Central Foundry plant, a division of General Motors, in Defiance where he held a variety of positions including Maintenance Superintendent and Plant Engineer.  Ken and three of his fellow engineers at the foundry embarked on the dream of a consulting engineering firm in 1972 named DAMPCO.  Eventually this firm dissolved, and the family moved to Erie, Pennsylvania where Ken worked for the General Electric Company.  The late 1970’s brought him back to Defiance where he managed the Isaac Corporation, currently Sims Metal Management, located east of the current Powertrain Foundry.  His love for engineering and seeing things being built ultimately led him back to consulting engineering where he worked in a variety of capacities including Vice President/General Manager of C.M.I. (Cast Metals Industries) headquartered in Augres, Michigan.  This portion of his career allowed him to be involved in the rebuilding and renovating of foundries and took him around the world.  As a matter of fact, his passing took place traveling back to his work on May 16, 2010.

Ken married Betty (Richard) on June 9, 1956.  Betty was born on March 18, 1938 in Defiance, Ohio and a 1956 graduate of Defiance High School.  Betty had an enormous love for music.  Ken and Betty were active members of Zion’s Lutheran Church where Betty was active in the choir.  Many times, Betty would bless the congregation with solos and perhaps her favorite was “Amazing Grace”.  In addition, she would unselfishly perform the difficult task of singing at a friend’s or church member’s funeral.

Ken and Betty were blessed with three sons, Craig, Scott and Michael.  Each of these sons have developed a life and career of their own.   Craig married Robin (Baldwin) and had three children, Kirk, Kyle and Katie (Coates) while Michael married Dawn (Prickett) and have a daughter Hannah.  Michael passed away unexpectedly on August 20, 2024.

This scholarship not only memorializes Ken and Betty but also Katie Elizabeth Coates.  Katie was born on April 11, 1988, and passed away on July 29, 2021 while on vacation with her husband and his family. She was 33 years old. 

In 2006, Katie graduated from Ayersville High School.  While there, she lettered in swimming, track and field, softball, and cheerleading.  She also performed in each yearly high school musical and played several instruments in concert and marching band. She also enjoyed working at Dee & Gee’s Dairy Bar.

Katie graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2011 with a B.S. in Education.  Later she returned to earn a Master’s degree in Classroom Technology from BGSU.  While attending as an undergraduate, she was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority and the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity.  In addition to the many positions held in her sorority and fraternity, she was secretary of the Greek Independent Board, Orientation Team Leader, Campus Tour Guide, Dance Marathon Morale Captain and was passionate about volunteering with Special Olympics.

Katie taught as an intervention specialist in Seattle, Washington and Columbus, Ohio before she found her perfect fit at Millersport Elementary School.  She loved teaching and she loved her students - students she had in class and her “student council kids.”  Ever the organizer and service oriented, Katie was instrumental in starting the Millersport Elementary Student Council and strived to make it an asset to the students and school.  She was secretary of the local and a member of the OEA, and NEA.  Katie was proud to be an educator and delighted to join the many educators in her immediate and extended family.

Katie found the love of her life and married Benjamin Carl Coates on March 27, 2021.  They loved each other and they loved their four-legged “fur babies”:  Hunter, Lucy and Link.  We lost Katie way too soon.  We are heartbroken but know that her heavenly Father holds her in His arms.  He loves her even more than we do and will make her perfectly healthy and joyful.  We will see her again.  Thanks be to God!

The McKibben Family scholarship will be a $1,000 renewable scholarship for four years.  In remembrance of the family members listed above the scholarship shall be awarded to those students pursuing degrees in either an engineering field, music or education. 

Past Scholarship Recipients

2026 - Kendra Waldron - 2026

2025 - Rylan Becher

2024 - Ben Amoroso

2023 - Tyson Schlachter

2022 - Maci Froelich

It is desired that the recipients provide updates on their progress via an annual communication with the McKibben family.  These correspondences can be sent to:

Craig McKibben
1215 Cambridge Boulevard
Bowling Green, OH 43402
Email: mckibbenc@defnet.com
Phone: (419)-395-2314 or (419)-439-5966 (cell phone)