KEARNEY – The Mortar Board National Foundation recently presented Jason Baker of Kearney with the Washington State + Zelma Patchin-Oklahoma State Fellowship.
Baker earned a bachelor’s degree in family science with a minor in criminal justice from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, graduating in December 2021. He’s currently pursuing a Master of Science in Education at UNK.
Baker was initiated into the Xi Phi chapter of Mortar Board in 2020 and served as alumni chair from 2020-21.
When asked about his Mortar Board experience, he says, “While serving as the alumni chair, I was able to interact with each member of the chapter to learn a little about them even though we were doing remote meetings. This role helped me better identify ways in which I can be a better leader and helped tremendously with my communications skills.”
A total of $37,000 in fellowships was awarded to eight exceptional Mortar Board members this year. Fellowship recipients are chosen based on academic excellence, recommendation, promise, financial need and Mortar Board involvement. Since the establishment of the Mortar Board fellowship program in 1941, more than $1.5 million has been awarded to assist members in pursuing further study in graduate or professional school.
Mortar Board is the premier national honor society recognizing college seniors for outstanding achievement in scholarship, leadership and service. Since its founding in 1918, the organization has grown from the four founding chapters to 233 chartered collegiate chapters with nearly a quarter of a million initiated members across the nation.
