The Gary K. Barker Science Scholarship was created for talented science students to pursue college studies in science, engineering or science education.

In 2001, Gary K. Barker retired after 36 years of teaching science in public schools in Michigan and Ohio. 32 of those years were spent in the Saginaw Public Schools – 13 years at Arthur Hill High School and 19 years at the Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy, formerly known as the Center for Arts and Sciences.

Mr. Barker developed one of the first courses in biotechnology for high school students in Michigan. He was the supervising teacher for several Michigan State Science Fair champions and had more than a dozen Grand Award winners at the International Science and  Engineering Fair over a 16-year period.

Mr. Barker received the “Excellence in Teaching Award” from the Saginaw Board of Education in 1994 and was a finalist for the Michigan Science Teacher of the Year in 1989.