Candace M. and Bruce B. Wagner Scholarship in Business Leadership

The Candace M. and Bruce B. Wagner Scholarship in Business Leadership was established in March 2021, by Candace (Candy) and Bruce Wagner, both University of Akron (UA) College of Business Administration alumni. Their goal in creating this scholarship is to provide support to CBA students who exemplify leadership at UA and in the community. Candy and Bruce established this non-endowed scholarship as a way to give back to the university where they first met.
Candy Wagner is a 1979 alumna with a bachelor of science degree in business administration, majoring in Finance. In 1986, she received her MBA in Finance from UA. She most recently served as President and Chief Financial Officer for Emerald Performance Materials, serving as CFO from its 2006 startup until her 2014 retirement. She was named President and CFO in August 2008 with responsibility for corporate governance and services. Since retirement, Candy has provided consulting and other transition services for private equity acquisitions and divestitures and serves on the Board of Directors of Zephyr Solutions LLC, a Northeast Ohio private equity portfolio company.
Candy also serves on UA’s President’s Advisory Council, the College of Business Advancement Council and previously was a member of the Department of Finance Advisory Board.
Bruce Wagner graduated in 1979 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration, majoring in personnel management. He worked for Petitti Garden Center and the Tallmadge Fire Department prior to joining the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department in 1983. Bruce was promoted to Lieutenant in 1996 and retired from the department in 2011 after 28 years of honorable leadership and service to the community. He started a rental home management business, OurHouse Properties, LLC, in 2003, and continues as CEO of the company.
The Candace M. and Bruce B. Wagner Scholarship in Business Leadership will support sophomore, junior and senior students demonstrating leadership in their college, discipline, or community and who have financial need. Wagner scholars will have a minimum 2.75 GPA and be in good standing as full-time students in the College of Business. Recipient selection will be made by the College of Business Scholarship Committee.