Baker Van den Berg Memorial Scholarship Endowment

Dr. William “Bill” H. Baker was a graduate of The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. He practiced veterinary medicine for many years in northern Virginia before trading his stethoscope and surgical instruments for a sailing license. A renaissance man, Bill sailed and traveled the world, always expanding his horizons. His motto was the well-known quote from French author Antoine de Saint-Exupery: “A goal without a plan is just a wish.”
Sharon Baker was raised in Virginia and graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in biology and chemistry. She taught chemistry for several years while she and Bill raised their children. When her last child entered college, she enrolled at the University of Miami and earned an MBA. Next, she and Bill founded International Marketing Partners, Inc., a company they operated for 25 years providing business development services for mid-level companies.
Having lived their lives and raised their children with a goal (and a plan) for achieving higher education, the Bakers always revered education and worked to assist others in achieving their educational goals. Their scholarship, endowed long before Bill’s death in May of 2016, provided Bill and Sharon with yet another avenue for supporting students. Recognizing that NWC provides a unique opportunity for students from rural communities to prepare themselves for the rigors of a 4-year university, Bill and Sharon chose to endow their scholarship soon after arriving in Park County. “NWC offers many opportunities for rural students to enter the academic world of higher education on equal footing with students who have experienced larger cities and travel to foreign countries. NWC provides the opportunity for students to travel the world, explore history, and appreciate diverse cultures,” says Sharon. Travel and exploration have always been an important part of the Bakers’ lives, and through their connection to Northwest College they shared their passion with students for learning and interacting with the world.