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Gillette, John and Barbara Study of the Arts Abroad and Academic Scholarship Fund

The John and Barbara Gillette Study of the Arts Abroad and Academic Scholarship Fund for The University of Akron’s Mary Schiller Myers School of Art was established in 2013 by John and Barbara Gillette to provide students with the opportunity to explore the borderless and timeless language of the arts and to provide the gift of education for art majors.

A 1963 graduate of The University of Akron College of Business Administration with an MBA from Indiana University, Mr. John C. Gillette is the retired president of Gasko Fabricated Products, a manufacturer of related products for small engines and automobiles. Mrs. Barbara Hixson Gillette earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in 1986. She is a highly regarded Ohio artist who creates pastels and monoprints of landscapes and cityscapes. The Gillettes are the parents of three grown children, one of whom enjoys an international career propelled forward by study-abroad experiences as a student, and four grandchildren.

As University of Akron alumni and strong patrons of the arts, John and Barbara Gillette's decision to support their alma mater was predicated on encouraging artistic and academic excellence, as well as elevating the reputation and competitiveness of the Mary Schiller Myers School of Art nationally. As such, Mr. and Mrs. Gillette have chosen to support University of Akron Mary Schiller Myers School of Art students on two fronts.

The John and Barbara Gillette Academic Scholarship recognizes artistic talent and theoretical knowledge, as well as assists students in overcoming financial barriers to achieving their academic career goals. The John and Barbara Gillette Study of the Arts Abroad Scholarship program immerses students in a new culture and provides them with a historical, intellectual, and technical enrichment opportunity designed to gain a competitive edge in meeting their artistic career goals. The John and Barbara Gillette Study of the Arts Abroad Scholarship and The John and Barbara Gillette Academic Scholarship will forever change the lives of the students who earn the honor of an academic and/or study-abroad scholarship.

The John and Barbara Gillette Academic Scholarship will be awarded each academic year to one sophomore-, one junior-, and one senior-level student in the Mary Schiller Myers School of Art, all of whom have declared an art major, are enrolled as full-time students, and are taking coursework in art studio and/or art history. The students' level will be determined by their progress through the School of Art curriculum, not the total number of University credits earned. Qualified students also will meet a pre-determined artistic skill level and/or academic merit.

In this regard, exceptional artistic and academic accomplishment, as identified by the faculty of the Mary Schiller Myers School of Art through a competitive process, is required. Final selection of the Gillette Academic Scholarship recipients is conducted by the School of Art Scholarship and Grants Committee, authorized by the director of the Mary Schiller Myers School of Art and confirmed by The University of Akron Office of Student Financial Aid. In case of a tie, the student with greater demonstrated financial need will be selected. The John and Barbara Gillette Academic Scholarship per student is $5,000 and may be used for tuition, fees, and books. Students are eligible to receive the scholarship in successive years. In awarding The John and Barbara Gillette Academic Scholarship, the Mary Schiller Myers School of Art will work in conjunction with The University of Akron Office of Student Financial Aid.

The John and Barbara Gillette Study of the Arts Abroad Scholarship offers invaluable lessons in life and art for junior- and senior-level students who have declared art as their primary major. For the students who are selected to participate in the program, it is a high honor and responsibility.

Held in even-numbered years starting in 2014, the Gillette Study of the Arts Abroad Scholarship program will provide full support for overseas travel and study in art forms, art culture, and art history. A total of $30,000 will be available for the Gillette Study of the Arts Abroad Scholarship.

Faculty advisors for the Gillette Study of the Arts Abroad program will be selected on a competitive basis as outlined in the Gillette Study of the Arts Abroad guidelines. The Gillette Study of the Arts Abroad program guidelines will be maintained and updated by the Mary Schiller Myers School of Art Scholarship and Grants Committee.

To qualify for a Gillette Study of the Arts Abroad Scholarship, interested students must complete a rigorous application process consisting of a letter of intent, a current resume, an official academic transcript, and examples of work. Expectations of Gillette Study of the Arts Abroad Scholarship recipients will include, but not be limited to, pre-travel and post-travel meetings, and most importantly, documentation and presentation of the experience vis-à-vis public and private presentations, public installations, lectures, digital pictures, website, video, and/or other public relations materials. The selection of The John and Barbara Gillette Study of the Arts Scholarship recipients will be the responsibility of the Mary Schiller Myers School of Art Scholarship and Grants Committee, as authorized and confirmed by the director of the Mary Schiller Myers School of Art. In awarding The John and Barbara Gillette Study of Arts Scholarship, the Mary Schiller Myers School of Art will work in conjunction with The University of Akron Office of Student Financial Aid.

Generous philanthropists, Mr. and Mrs. Gillette also support The University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, the College of Business Administration, and the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences, which includes the former College of Fine and Applied Arts. In addition to The University of Akron, the Gillettes are involved with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy, the Artist Archives of the Western Reserve, and the Akron-Area Arts Alliance. In recognition of their giving, past and present to The University of Akron, Mr. and Mrs. Gillette are members of the Patron’s Club and the Society for Tomorrow.