Dr. Violet E. Leathers Endowed Scholarship

The Dr. Violet E. Leathers Endowed Scholarship was established at The University of Akron in 2016 through a generous gift from Violet E. Leathers, Ed.D. A proponent of hard work and perseverance, Leathers chose to establish the scholarship to reward students who exemplify these attributes.

A Cleveland native who spent her formative years in Warren, Ohio, Leathers eventually made her way to Akron, where she became a three-time University of Akron graduate. She earned a B.S. in elementary education in 1974, an M.S. in special education in 1979, and an Ed.D in educational administration in 1985. She also holds an associate degree from Ohio University.

More than a student, Leathers has a relationship with UA that includes a long and distinguished career. Beginning in 1974, she spent nearly 25 years teaching in the College of Education (now the LeBron James Family Foundation College of Education) before retiring in 1996 as associate professor emeritus. Her tenure includes being named the College’s Outstanding Teacher in the 1995-96 academic year.

Leathers and her late husband, Noel L., who retired from UA in 1995 as professor emeritus of history and head of the History Department, and then returned to serve as vice president and provost until his second retirement in 2000, also are longtime benefactors of the University. In honor of her husband’s commitment to UA, Leathers previously established The Dr. Noel L. and Dr. Violet E. Leathers Honors College Scholarship for History and Education Majors.

The Dr. Violet E. Leathers Endowed Scholarship will provide an annual, nonrenewable scholarship for a student with a GPA of 3.0 or higher who is enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program in the LeBron James Family Foundation College of Education at The University of Akron. Preference will be given to:

Nontraditional students
Students with demonstrated financial need
Students who exemplify hard work and perseverance by working to pay for their tuition or by overcoming challenges to continue their education
Applicants will be reviewed and a recipient will be selected by the Office of Student Financial Aid.