The Mark Bass and Joe Morgan Scholarship honors two Baker High School graduates whose shared experiences as student-athletes shaped their lives. Mark Bass and Joseph “Joe” Morgan, both members of the class of 1975, served as co-captains of the track and field team, earned varsity letters, and competed in district meets. Their enduring friendship and commitment to education inspired the creation of a scholarship for Fairborn High School track and field athletes pursuing higher education in Ohio.
The Inspiration Behind the Scholarship
Before Joe’s passing, he and Mark often discussed giving back through education. “We both went to Ohio State and felt OSU was too big a school to make a difference,” Mark recalls. “To have the greatest impact, we decided to provide a scholarship for deserving students from Fairborn High School. Ohio’s post-secondary education system is top notch, and we felt students here have ample opportunities, so we kept the scholarship limited to Ohio institutions.”
Encouraging the Next Generation
The Mark Bass and Joe Morgan Scholarship is awarded to a Fairborn High School student who has earned a varsity letter in track and field, maintained a minimum 2.5 GPA, and plans to attend a community college, technical school, or university in Ohio.
While financial assistance is a key part of the award, Mark hopes the impact runs deeper:
“We want recipients to know that there are people who have been down their path before them and understand the challenges of starting out in life. Maybe one day, they’ll return the favor by establishing a scholarship of their own.”
Mark and Joe’s time as student-athletes shaped their view of success. “Athletics are important for a person’s well-being – both physical and mental,” Mark says. “It builds character to be both a good student and a good athlete. Consistency, dedication, and the ability to support your team or group are hallmarks of a great student-athlete.” His advice to recipients is simple but powerful: “Education is the key to success. Whether it’s a trade school, community college, or four-year university, keep learning and building toward your goals.”
Partnering with Greene Giving
When deciding how to manage the scholarship, Mark turned to Greene Giving based on the recommendation of Fairborn Board of Education President Jerry Browning, a fellow Baker High School alumnus. Greene Giving invests the principal, and the income generated funds the award each year. Just as importantly, Greene Giving works closely with Fairborn High School counselors and teachers to identify worthy students, choose the recipient, and then assures that the scholarship is paid to the college or university of choice and on the recipient’s account.
For Mark, supporting today’s Fairborn students is a way to honor the past and invest in the future. “The teachers and staff at Fairborn Baker High School prepared us well for our college studies,” he says. “This is our way of paying back their efforts – and paying it forward for the next generation of Fairborn students.”
