Nelson Family Scholarship in Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering

The Nelson Family Scholarship in Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering was established in 2016 in the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering at The University of Akron by Harvey S. Nelson, co-CEO of Main Street Gourmet, member of the Advancement Council in the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, and a 1989 UA graduate who holds a B.S. in mathematics.

The Nelson Family Scholarship in Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering will assist students pursuing an undergraduate minor* in Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering. The program will allow select undergraduates to take advantage of the College’s internationally acclaimed programs and increase the number of graduates in the field of polymers. This opportunity supports the University’s mission to both produce a talent pipeline for Ohio industry and to offer students specialized programs of great value.

The Nelson Family Scholarship in Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering will provide a prestigious scholarship annually to five or more undergraduate students at The University of Akron who declare an intention to pursue a minor in Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering. The recipients of this scholarship will be designated as Nelson Scholars.

Students may apply for the scholarship in the fall or spring semesters, with distributions for either the following fall or spring, as appropriate. In order to apply, students must:

Be enrolled full time in the Williams Honors College OR have a GPA of 3.5 or higher
Be sophomores or juniors, although freshmen and seniors may be recipients when appropriate
Demonstrate academic achievement in prerequisite introductory courses in chemistry, physics, and mathematics (200 level)
Demonstrate need and merit, with need taking precedence when merit standards are met
The scholarship may be renewed once for a recipient in a subsequent year, subject to recommendation by the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering Faculty Committee and/or the student’s ability to meet criteria set by the Committee, however the Committee determines most advantageous. In addition, a scholarship balance may be carried over for one successive year if recommended by the Committee and if funding allows.

The College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering Faculty Committee will establish protocols for students who wish to apply for the scholarship and will select recipients.