Akron Community Foundation Scholarships: A Guide to Opportunities

The Akron Community Foundation offers a multitude of scholarship opportunities for students pursuing higher education. These scholarships cater to a diverse range of interests, backgrounds, and fields of study. This article provides an overview of some of the scholarships available, their eligibility requirements, and application processes, utilizing information provided to offer a detailed guide for prospective applicants.

General Information

The Akron Community Foundation provides various avenues for establishing and managing charitable funds, including Scholarship Funds. Establishing a Scholarship Fund requires an initial gift of $25,000. Most funds are assessed fees of less than 2% for administration and investment management, deducted directly from the fund.

Scholarship Types and Examples

The Akron Community Foundation offers several types of funds, including Donor-Advised Funds, Designated Funds, Agency Endowment Funds, Scholarship Funds, and Board Discretionary Funds. A Donor-Advised Fund operates like a combined charitable checking and savings account. Agency Endowment Funds provide nonprofits with a predictable, stable source of income. A Scholarship Fund allows individuals, schools, or organizations to create a brighter future for area students.

Here are some specific scholarships with their criteria and application details:

Richard L. Averitte Scholarship

Eligibility: This scholarship is established by the Coming Together Project in memory of Richard L. Averitte, who was a music educator with Akron Public Schools for 31 years before becoming the first executive director of the Coming Together Project.
How to apply: Applications are available through the Hudson High School SchooLinks site.

Renee Blackstock Scholarship

Eligibility: Established to honor and memorialize Renee Blackstock, who excelled in her academic studies and was valedictorian of both Garfield High School (1976) and The University of Akron (1980). Renee also led an active and well-rounded lifestyle, was dedicated to her family and benevolent toward health, education and animal welfare, and was a faith-based woman.

Kenneth Blower Scholarship

Eligibility: Established by the family of Kenneth Blower to provide scholarships based on financial need to Hudson High School graduating seniors pursuing a two- to four-year degree in scientific areas of study, including but not limited to engineering, environmental science, medicine and biology.
How to apply: Applications are available through the Hudson High School SchooLinks site.

Ciearra Monet Audrey Brown Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility: Established by Stephanie Woehler and many others to honor and memorialize Ciearra Monet Audrey Brown, a 2016 graduate of Firestone CLC who lost her life at the age of 21 in a tragic car accident.

Martin O. Chapman and Roberta M. Chapman Scholarship

Eligibility: Established by Mary V. Chapman and Roberta Chapman to honor former Garfield High School principal Martin O. Chapman and Roberta M. Chapman.
How to apply: This scholarship is by nomination only.

Jim Chenot Scholarship

Eligibility: Established as a tribute to the late Jim Chenot, former WAPS-FM "Summit" on-air personality and business underwriting sales representative who passed away in 2016, to provide scholarships for Akron Public Schools seniors with a focus on raising awareness for those who have overcome obstacles that may have prevented them from fully realizing their healthy potential.

Michael Corbett Scholarship

Eligibility: Established by the Corbett family in memory of Michael Corbett, who died at the age of 15 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Renewal: Renewable for one additional year.

Dr. Frederick J. Frese III Scholarship

Eligibility: Established by NAMI Summit County to honor and memorialize Dr. Frederick J. Frese III by providing scholarships to graduate-level students seeking a degree in the area of mental health treatment. Dr. Frese was a renowned psychologist and fierce health advocate for the rights and dignity of people with a mental illness.
Renewal: Renewable for three additional years.

Roland E. Gamble Scholarship

Eligibility: Established in memory of Roland E. Gamble, a music educator at Hudson High School for 28 years who died of cancer in 1995.
Renewal: Renewable for three additional years.

Geis Companies Scholarship

Eligibility: Established by the Geis family to provide scholarships for Geis Companies employees and their children, as well as the children of the company's subcontractors and vendors.
How to apply: Applications are available through the Hudson High School SchooLinks site.

St. Sebastian School Scholarship

Eligibility: Established to provide scholarships for graduates of St. Sebastian School who will attend St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.
Application deadline: Dec.
How to apply: Contact the St. Vincent-St. Mary Endowment Office at 330-780-6439.

Timothy L. Gockel Scholarship

Application deadline: Feb.
How to apply: Applications are available through the Medina High School guidance office.

Raymond Marshall Hyser Sr. Scholarship

How to apply: Applications are available through the Hudson High School SchooLinks site.

Dante B. and Joy W. Jackson Scholarship

How to apply: Applications are available through the Hudson High School SchooLinks site.
Renewal: Recipients may be eligible to reapply annually for the term of the degree or continuing education program by submitting a new application and maintaining a 2.5 GPA.

Ethan Liming Scholarship

Eligibility: Established in 2022 by Jennifer Liming and many others to honor and memorialize Ethan Liming, who loved sports and played football, basketball and baseball at Firestone CLC, where he just completed his junior year.
How to apply: Applications are available through the Hudson High School guidance office.

Dan McClelland Scholarship

Eligibility: Established in memory of Dan McClelland, an alumnus of Chardon High School Class of 1971 who left a legacy in Geauga County through his devotion to community service.
How to apply: Applications are available through the Common Application for Local Scholarships utilized by Chardon High School.

Frank W. Miller Scholarship

How to apply: Applications are available through the Ellet High School guidance office.

Burton D. Morgan Scholarship

How to apply: Applications are available through the Hudson High School SchooLinks site.

Anne K. and Harry D. Nelson Scholarship

Renewal: Renewable for three additional years.
How to apply: Applications are available through Humility of Mary Housing in Cuyahoga Falls.

Judith A. Resnik Memorial Fund and Judith A. Resnik Scholarship

Renewal: Renewable for three additional years.

Joseph P. Siegferth Sr. Scholarship

Eligibility: Established by Joseph P. Siegferth Jr.

Robert W. Stanton Scholarship

Eligibility: Established to honor and memorialize Robert W. Stanton by providing postsecondary scholarships to Theodore Roosevelt High School (Kent Roosevelt) seniors who have previously graduated from Stanton Middle School.

Dr. Scott T. Sterling Scholarship

How to apply: Applications are available through the Hudson High School guidance office.

Norma B. Walter Scholarship

Renewal: Renewable for three additional years.

Summit County Master Gardeners Scholarship

Eligibility: Established by Summit County Master Gardeners to provide scholarships to Summit County students or residents who are interested in attending an Ohio university to pursue a two- or four-year degree in horticulture, agriculture, environmental studies or closely related field.
How to apply: Applicants must apply through our online application system.
Renewal: Renewable for up to two years.

Cleveland Punch and Die Company Scholarship

Eligibility: Established to provide postsecondary scholarships to Cleveland Punch and Die Company's active employees and their spouses, children and grandchildren.

Michelle M. Vasenda Scholarship

Eligibility: Established in memory of Michelle M. Vasenda, a career nurse who lost her battle to breast cancer in 2009.

Richard S. Wagner Scholarship

Eligibility: Established in memory of Dick Wagner in recognition of his long-standing interest and commitment to the Firestone High School swimming and diving program.

Anthony Wunderle Scholarship

Eligibility: Established by Lori and Greg Wunderle in memory of their son Anthony who had childhood leukemia.
How to apply: Applications are available through the Buckeye High School guidance office.

Coach Terry Ross Achievement Scholarship Fund

Renewal: Football scholarships are renewable for sophomore year.

GCEF (Gay Community Endowment Fund) Scholarship Fund

Eligibility: Awards postsecondary academic scholarships to LGBTQ+ and allied students who live or study in Summit, Medina, Portage, Stark and Wayne counties.
Application deadline: March 1.
How to apply: Online application and instructions are available at akroncf.org/students. Priority is given to students who participate in organizations or initiatives that make a positive impact in the LGBTQ+ community. For more information, contact Scholarship Administrator Liz Szczukowski at 330-436-5615.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

Beyond the Akron Community Foundation, students can explore other scholarship avenues:

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Spellman Scholarship: This scholarship helps motivated high school seniors from Summit County pay for college. A personal interview is required. The scholarship may be renewed for subsequent college terms.
"Be Bold" Scholarship: A no-essay scholarship awarded to the applicant with the boldest profile. Open to residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, age 17 or older.
Scholarships360 $10,000 âNo Essayâ Scholarship: Open to all students who want extra help paying for their education.
Christian Connector Scholarship Drawings: For Christian/Faith Based colleges and universities.
StudentScholarships.org Scholarship: For those between the ages of 14-25 who will be attending school.
National Black Nurses Association Scholarships: For students at all levels (LPN to Doctorate). Applications and supporting materials are accepted electronically via the Community Force platform.

Essay Prompts to Consider

When crafting scholarship applications, students often encounter essay prompts designed to reveal their character, experiences, and aspirations. Some common prompts include:

Discussing a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it.
Recounting a time when they faced a challenge, setback, or failure and the lessons learned.
Describing a topic, idea, or concept that captivates them and why.

Army ROTC Scholarships

Scholarships and other monetary support are available to help with costs when you join Army Reserve Officersâ Training Corps (ROTC). This allows students to focus on their education and graduate into a secure path as an Army Officerâand with less debt for the school years your scholarship covers.

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