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College of Engineering Trajectory Award

For more than 100 years, The University of Akron College of Engineering has earned a reputation for training and developing an engineering workforce capable of making immediate and lasting impact as graduates.  The College of Engineering Trajectory Award at The University of Akron (hereafter ‘the University’) will assist deserving undergraduate students in the College of Engineering with federal student loan debt reduction to further assist deserving students transitioning from college.

Trajectory Award recipients are examples of students graduating from the College of Engineering whose talents, along with the help from family, faculty, and peers, have enabled them to succeed.  Moreover, in keeping with the tenet that ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’ they have demonstrated a willingness to contribute to the wellbeing of others, now and into the future.  The Trajectory Award is meant to relieve some of the financial burden that might otherwise hinder them after graduation.

Deserving students are identified based on achievement in academic and extra-curricular, co-curricular, civic and volunteer activities, as well as their potential to become future community leaders.  Since its 2012 establishment, the Award has recognized 50 recipients who, through their examples, have advanced a culture of leadership in the College of Engineering.

It is intended that each of the college’s engineering departments will have at least one student recipient selected, and the remaining recipients will be selected among applicants at large across all engineering departments. 

The Director of Financial Aid at the University will provide names of qualified recipients. Deserving students must be nominated by faculty and/or staff within the College of Engineering in a process administered by the Dean of the College of Engineering (or the Dean’s delegate for this purpose).

 Eligibility Criteria:  

• The student plans to graduate with their B.S. degree in an engineering discipline at the end of the spring or summer semesters.
• The student has both an overall cumulative and overall Engineering GPA of 3.0 or higher and is in good standing at the College and the University at the time of the application.
• The student has participated in the College’s Co-operative Education program (with at least one transcripted experience).
• The student has an outstanding federal student loan debt, as documented by the Office of Student Financial Aid, of the calculated Award Amount at the time of the announcement of The Trajectory Award for that year (normally at the end of January).

1.  Only federal student loan debt is eligible for reduction through this Award distribution. 
2.  Federal loan amounts must still be outstanding at the time of the Award announcement to be eligible for the Award distribution.

Application:

The application is as follows:

•  A one-page essay on the student’s achievements and why they feel they are deserving of this award. This essay must also address how earning this award will enable and propel them after graduation, including thoughts on serving their community.
• A one-page list of activities and awards that describes leadership roles, community involvement, volunteerism, extra/co-curricular activities, awards and recognitions.
•  At least one letter of recommendation from a faculty or staff member of the College.
•  At least one letter of recommendation resulting from their co-op experience.

Note:  The student should submit no more than five letters of recommendation, overall, in support of their application.

•  Preference will be given to students providing examples of leadership, community involvement, volunteerism, extra-curricular, co-curricular, and participation in University and the community as evidenced by awards, recognition, and/or letters of recommendation.