The Peldunas Scholarship in Chemical Engineering

Elizabeth and Brian Peldunas established The Peldunas Scholarship in Chemical Engineering in 2003. Mr. Peldunas is a 1980 graduate in chemical engineering and also graduated from the University with an M.S. in polymer science in 1982. The couple established The Peldunas Scholarship in Chemical Engineering because of Mr. Peldunas’ gratitude to the Department and the University for providing him with the skills and tools that served as the basis for his successful business career.

A native of Canton, Ohio, Mr. Peldunas made many close friendships during his time at The University of Akron and keeps in touch with those friends to this day. Mr. Peldunas married the former Elizabeth Frederick, an accomplished financial executive in her own right, in November 2001. Mrs. Peldunas graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University Johnson Graduate School of Management. Their first child, Julia, was born in October 2003.

Following graduation from the University, Mr. Peldunas began his career with General Tire and Rubber Company as a research engineer. After a serious review of his career goals, Mr. Peldunas proceeded to New York to attend the Columbia University Graduate School of Business, where he completed his MBA in operations management and business economics. Upon graduation, he joined The First Boston Corporation, now Credit Suisse First Boston.

Mr. Peldunas’ career at Credit Suisse First Boston brought him to his current position as a managing director in the Operations Department, serving as a global business manager covering listed derivative and emerging markets products. He also manages client service development efforts for all of operations at Credit Suisse First Boston. Mr. Peldunas’ earlier experience at Credit Suisse First Boston includes service in a variety of support areas for the firm. He has lived and worked in London, New York, and Tokyo.

The Peldunas Scholarship in Chemical Engineering shall be awarded to one chemical engineering student annually. The recipient shall have a GPA of at least 2.74, shall have received As or Bs in freshmen English classes, and will be a junior student in the department. The Peldunas Scholarship is renewable if the student continues to meet the academic requirements set out by this description. Preference will be given to a student from Stark County, Ohio, or from southern New Jersey (south of Trenton). The Peldunas Scholarship shall be awarded by the Department of Chemical Engineering in consultation with the dean’s office.

The full scholarship description can be found on the Office of Development’s Scholarship site by typing a keyword from the name of the scholarship into the search box.