Incoming Ohio Northern University freshmen Ashley Mast from Apple Creek, Ohio, and Teresa Duffy from Wilmington, Ohio, have been named the first Baker Scholars. The scholarship will provide $20,000 for each student over four years.

The two students are the first individuals to benefit from the Dr. Kendall L. Baker, President Emeritus, Ohio Northern University, and Mrs. Toby Baker Endowed Scholarship, which was established to assist students with financial need, academic ability and a strong commitment to leadership and service.

Mast, who plans to major in biology, completed her high school education with a grade point average of 3.85. In high school, she was a member of the National Honor Society and participated in volleyball, student council and the school newspaper.

Duffy, who will major in psychology, enters ONU with a high school grade point average of 4.16. She participated in musicals, led a musical theatre club for middle school students, and volunteered at a soup kitchen once a month.   

“We are honored and pleased by the selection of these two students, who will benefit from the scholarship in our name. ONU is close to our hearts, and we are happy this will help students to further their education at ONU,” said Kendall Baker.

To be eligible for the endowed scholarship, a student must have financial need as judged by appropriate college officials; have achieved a high school grade point average of 3.5 (4.0) and 25 ACT composite score (or comparable SAT); and have demonstrated leadership in their school, church or community in areas such as the visual and performing arts, service, and other activities.

Kendall Baker joined Ohio Northern in August 1999 as its 10th president. Upon his retirement in 2011, the ONU Board of Trustees established a scholarship in the amount of $1 million to honor his dedication and commitment to the University.

Toby Baker, who earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from ONU in 2006, received her Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Wyoming and Master of Arts in creative writing from the University of North Dakota.  As the First Lady of ONU, Mrs. Baker brought her own artistic vision to the University. She was instrumental in the placement of art from the Dicke Collection in the James F. Dicke College of Business Administration Building, produced artwork for the Mathile Center for the Natural Science and read poetry at ONU commencement ceremonies.