Swensons Drive-In Endowed Scholarship in Marketing

Established in 2021, the scholarship was originally named The Stephen B. Thompson Endowed Scholarship in Marketing. In 2022, Akron native, Stephen B. Thompson requested the scholarship name be changed to The Swensons Drive-In Endowed Scholarship in Marketing. The scholarship underwent another revision in 2024 to provide additional clarity on the eligibility criteria and the specific amounts of scholarships to be granted in a given academic year. Always a focused individual, Steve graduated from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School and attended The University Akron. He graduated from the College of Business with a bachelor’s degree in marketing in 1975. As a college student, Steve worked as a curb server at Swensons, a legendary Akron restaurant known for its burgers, milkshakes and friendly curb servers who sprint to offer car-side service to customers. A year after his graduation from UA, Steve returned to Swensons, this time purchasing the Wallhaven location.

Steve acquired additional locations, growing the brand to seven successful stores. Swensons has won numerous honors, including a “Best Burger” title on Chef Michael Simon’s television show “Food Feuds,” and was named as “The Best Cheeseburger in America” by Forbes Magazine in 1999. Today, full-time attendance at a four-year college and maintenance of a 2.25 grade point average are prerequisites of all individuals hired as Swensons servers, with tuition scholarships available for exceptional employees.

The Swensons Drive-In Endowed Scholarship in Marketing supports juniors and seniors enrolled full- or part-time in UA’s College of Business who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in marketing and graduate students pursuing a master’s degree with a focus in marketing. Selection will be based on financial need and demonstration of interest and passion for marketing as a career. First consideration will be given to students who are working a job fora minimum of twenty hours per week or more.To be eligible for consideration, students need to complete the College of Business scholarship application or similar application as recommended by the University. Should the scholarship application not mandate a personal statement, the student is obligated to submit one for their application to be considered for the scholarship. Selection of recipients will be made by the Department Chair of Marketing. The Swensons Drive-In Endowed Scholarship in Marketing is renewable for up to a maximum of two years for both undergraduate and graduate students. To maintain eligibility, recipients must maintain good academic standing and actively pursue a marketing undergraduate degree or a focus in marketing at the graduate level. Furthermore, undergraduate recipients may continue receiving the scholarship as a graduate student for an additional two years, provided they are pursuing a master’s degree with a focus in marketing.

Two scholarships shall be awarded each academic year, and the recipients are to receive all funds available in the award account or the greatest scholarship possible. The entire amount available shall be divided equally between the two recipients. If funds exceed the needs of the initial recipients, additional students may be awarded, with each one receiving the maximum
amount until the award account is depleted each year. Funds from the scholarship may be used for tuition, fees, and books.