1999 Presentation of the Kenneth A. White, Jr. Distinguished Business Officer Award to Nick Bakker

The first recipient of the Kenneth A. White, Jr. Distinguished Business Officer Award has had a career and legacy that mirror the high standards Ken White brought to our profession. With his gentle ways and generosity of spirit, Nick Bakker has inspired many of us to higher levels of participation in our schools and associations. Through his own participation, he changed the professional nature of school Business Offices and the people who inhabited them. His influence is widely felt and his encouragement drives many of us today. Nick has urged Business Officers to participate fully in the administration of their schools. He, Ken White, and others like them, have not allowed Business Officers to just wear a green eye shade, but pushed us to become professional educational managers. Nick’s excellent public speaking talents have served us all well.

Nick’s clear vision moved many of us from seeing financial aid as a way to fill vacant seats to understanding that financial assistance could bring about better, stronger schools by ensuring enrollment of the best students. Thanks to Nick’s work on the extensive financial aid program at Thayer Academy, hundreds of students have received a superb educational experience. Thousands of additional students have been assisted by The Education Fund (Please Loans) which is now a part of The Educational Resources Institute. Nick served as a Founding Director and past President of that organization.

Nick has served unselfishly in national, regional, state and local associations. He has served on many NAIS committees and task forces using his experience and wisdom as a resource for Independent Schools. He has graciously made himself available to speak from California to Maine.

After retiring from his twenty-eight year career at Thayer Academy, Nick continues to work for the benefit of Independent Schools. He remains as the President of Independent Schools Compensation Corporation. He is the Communications Director for the Massachusetts Association of Schools and Colleges where he has increased their legislative activity while keeping members more fully informed.

– Jim Martin, Charlotte Country Day School, Charlotte, NC