Queensbury High School senior Chase Baker has been named a Stamps Scholar by the University of Notre Dame.
Chase is one of 18 incoming Notre Dame students to receive the scholarship, which covers tuition and fees as well as the estimated cost of books, personal expenses and transportation for all four years. He will also receive an enrichment fund for expenses including, but not limited to, study abroad, unpaid internships and research, leadership training, conference fees and travel.
The Stamps Scholars Program was founded by E. Roe Stamps and his late wife Penny in 2006, with the purpose of enabling extraordinary educational experiences for extraordinary students, according to the Stamps Scholars website.
Established in 2013, the Notre Dame Stamps Scholars Program attracts exceptional students who exemplify leadership, service, scholarship, innovation and character. Stamps Scholars are among the highest achieving applicants who demonstrate academic merit, strong leadership potential and exceptional character, according to the Notre Dame website.
“He is just an unbelievable leader in this building — not just with his academics but with his involvement in extracurricular activities,” said QHS Principal Andrew Snide. “Students look up to Chase, and he leads by example.”
Chase is a full International Baccalaureate Diploma candidate in the top 10 of his class. He is class president and captain of both the varsity lacrosse and basketball teams. He is a member of the National Honor Society as well as the Tri-M (music) and Spanish National Honor Societies. He is also a member of the Key Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Quiz Bowl, Captain’s Club, Jazz Band and Math Club.
He attended Boys State and the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership seminar. He is also a founding member of the Adirondack Solar Alliance and has traveled to Puerto Rico three times to help install solar panels on nursing homes.
“Chase is a phenomenal student in our district,” said Superintendent of Schools Kyle Gannon. “He is the epitome of excellence and fully embodies the mission statement that we preach as a campus.”
Chase and his family visited Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, in early April to officially commit. During the weekend event for accepted students, he was able to meet other Stamps Scholars. He said he was honored to be a Stamps Scholarship recipient.
“It provides a lot of opportunities for research, which I’m excited for,” said Chase, who plans to study biochemistry and attend medical school after he graduates from Notre Dame.
He would like to be a doctor and focus on pain management and rehabilitation. He looks forward to the Fighting Irish football games and other athletic events.
“I like the tradition there — that’s a big thing for me,” Chase said. “Not only the sports, but the dorm culture there, I think it’s special. Especially when I went there during accepted students weekend, everyone was so close and the collaborative nature of everything was special too.”
He leaves in mid-August for the 11-hour drive to South Bend.
“I don’t mind that, though,” he said. “I’m excited to do that on my own one day, because I’ve never driven that far.”