Scholarships

Ben Baker Memorial Scholarship

The Arc of Bartholomew County is pleased to sponsor the Ben Baker Memorial Scholarship award for the 2025-2026 academic year. The winner will be announced at our Annual Awards Ceremony in May 2025..

Submission Deadline: May 1, 2024 for 2025-2026 Academic Year

Description: In keeping with The Arc of Bartholomew County’s commitment to persons with disabilities or developmental delays, the scholarship is available to a Bartholomew County graduating senior (either mid-term or ending term) or any other Bartholomew County resident who intends to begin studies toward an advanced degree in the fall of 2025.

Amount: Up to $1,000

Criteria:

• Must have demonstrated an interest in assisting or advocating for individuals who have disabilities and/or plan to pursue an education/career related to assisting or advocating for individuals who have disabilities

Application Process: Download the Application below and email it to wendy.kirts@thearcbc.org

Origin of Ben Baker Scholarship:

The Arc of Bartholomew County Ben Baker Scholarship is named after an individual named Ben Baker for his work in making Columbus a more welcoming place for people with developmental disabilities. Ben and Georgeanna Baker's son, Mark, had Down syndrome. Mark was part of the first generation of individuals with Down syndrome who were raised by their families and not placed in an institution. Ben and Georgeanna worked tirelessly to create opportunities for Mark, including the development of the first classroom in Columbus for people with Down syndrome.

The community of Columbus now stands on the tall shoulders of people like Ben and Georgeanna Baker, who saw the potential in their son, Mark, and paved the way for all others in our community! The Ben Baker Scholarship celebrates the strives that have been made to include and advocate for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our community, as well as create opportunities to further the improvement of their lives.