ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington athletics director Jim Baker announced the establishment of the Nancy Baker Memorial Women's Golf Scholarship, honoring the memory of his late wife. This new scholarship will be used to attract and recruit high-performing women golfers to UT Arlington.

"Nancy loved college golf and loved UTA," Jim Baker said. "As a lifelong educator, this scholarship keeps her memory alive as our women's golf program launches. She will always be a part of UTA. I'm so honored to do this for Nancy."

The UT Arlington women's golf program begins competition with the 2017-18 season. The Nancy Baker Memorial Women's Golf Scholarship will allow UT Arlington to immediately and successfully compete with other institutions for the most talented female student-athletes.

Students may apply for the Nancy Baker Memorial Women's Golf Scholarship provided they meet the following criteria:

• Must be a member of the women's golf team.
• Must have a 3.5 GPA or higher from their high school or previous institution if they are a first year student at UT Arlington.
• Must have a 3.0 GPA or higher for returning student-athletes.
• Preferred, but not necessary, that the student-athlete is pursuing a degree in elementary, secondary, or higher education with the intent to be a teacher.

Jim Baker and family have committed a lead gift of $25,000, with a goal of growing the endowment to fund a full athletic scholarship in the future.

"My sons and I know that she would be proud of the opportunity UTA is providing for young women in the sport of golf," Jim Baker said. "It is my sincere hope through the generosity of the many people who loved and cared for Nancy that this prestigious scholarship is fully endowed within five years."

A gift in support of the Nancy Baker Memorial Women's Golf Scholarship helps advance the UT Arlington Athletic Department and its mission by attracting the very best student-athletes. Please contact Kris Wood at 817-272-9613 and/or kriswood@uta.edu for endowment information.