Thousands give honoring Barkers

More than $2.6 million has been donated to the Barker Scholars Endowment, a new fund established two months ago to honor Clemson University President James F. Barker and his wife, Marcia. In April, he announced plans to step down as president and return to the faculty in the School of Architecture. The endowment will support need-based scholarships for undergraduate students. A total of 1,803 alumni, faculty, staff, students, fans and friends donated $2,676,011 to the fund, making it the largest scholarship endowment started during the university’s The Will to Lead capital campaign. Barker Scholarships will be awarded by the university’s financial aid office through its normal processes. Some could be awarded as early as the spring 2014 semester. The scholarships will go to students with the highest level of need or to those who face extraordinary circumstances causing a change in their financial situation. Because of the size of the endowment, approximately $107,040 or 4% of the total will be available for scholarships each year.