Named scholarships & funds
When it comes to earning a college degree, the greatest obstacle can be funding.
For this reason, The University of Akron is pleased for the opportunity each year to assist talented, deserving students achieve their dreams, thanks to more than 1,300 named scholarships established through the kindness and generosity of thousands of °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ alumni and friends, corporations, and foundations.
Scholarships truly are the best way to ensure that today’s students persist to graduation. Scholarships allow students to enroll full time and remain focused on their studies; they also reduce drop-out rates, decrease the stress of student loans, and shorten the road to graduation.
If you are interested in making a significant contribution to student success, please consider a gift to scholarships. You may also establish a named scholarship at The University of Akron, which can be created to honor a living person, in memory of a loved one, or to contribute to the growth of an area of study.
To learn more, please contact the Department of Development at 330-972-7238.
How do I apply for a scholarship?
This is not the page to apply for scholarships.
Students who want to apply for scholarships should visit the scholarship page on the Financial Aid site. You can find the link for the online application here.
The Department of Development does not accept applications for or distribute scholarships. Scholarships are distributed through the University’s Office of Student Financial Aid.
Search for a Named Scholarship
Orr, Owen O. and Della M. Scholarship
Della Orr provided the largest estate gifts ever received by The University of Akron in 2005. Della specified that her gift is to be used for student scholarships in her name and the name of her husband Owen O. Orr. The University determined her gift initially will be used to provide scholarships for honors students. Appropriately, The Gertrude F. Orr Hall, named for Owen Orr’s mother and which he had funded in the early 1960’s to be the first women’s residence hall on campus is now a part of the Honors College. Honors students will now benefit from this generous gift which pays tribute to the commitment of both Della and Owen to the University. Not long after his landmark gift to the University in the early 1960’s Owen suffered an extended illness and then died in 1979. Della and Owen Orr may have been more involved with the University during their lifetimes, if it had not been for Owen’s unfortunate illness. While caring for Owen was the primary focus of Della’s life for nearly 20 years, Owen had entrusted her with responsibility for the family finances. She became an astute investor and accomplished business woman.
Owen O. Orr was the founder of Akron Motor Cargo Company. Established in 1931, the company changed its name in 1939 to Motor Cargo Company. By the time the company was sold in 1956 it was the eighth largest common carrier trucking company in the United States. Consolidated Freightways of Portland, Oregon bought the company. Mr. Orr was also President of Orr-Thomas Oil, Orr Service and Supply Company, Industrial Oil and Chemical Company and Triple O Service and Supply Company.
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