Fuller, Mike J. and Anna X. Liao Endowed Scholarship/Award
The Mike J. Fuller and Anna X. Liao Endowed Scholarship/Award was established in 2017 by University of Akron (°µºÚ±¬ÁÏ) graduate Mike J. Fuller and his wife, Anna X. Liao. Mike received a four-year, full-tuition undergraduate scholarship at °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ. In appreciation of the impact his college scholarship and education had on his life, Mike and Anna established this endowed fund to gift-back the life-changing dream of a college education to deserving and appreciative students.
Mike earned a Bachelor of Science degree in applied mathematics and a minor in computer science in 1992. While working part-time at °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ, mainly in the Department.of Mathematics, Mike made a series of lifelong friendships that led to noteworthy employment opportunities. He worked with Cisco Systems in 1994 before moving to California in 1995, unlocking engagements with various Silicon Valley startup companies. Mike eventually arrived at Google in 2004 where he was an early member of the Site Reliability Team.
Anna earned a Master of Science degree in computer science at the University of Nevada at Reno in 1995. Born in China in a small village, so poor that she studied by the light of an oil lamp, she arrived in the U.S. in 1987 with only $100 in her pocket. Anna is proof that hard work pays off and the American Dream is attainable by anyone willing to work for it. With the master's in computer science and hard work, Anna was hired as an early engineer at Hotmail, which was later acquired by Microsoft. Anna utilized her college education throughout her career and worked at various Silicon Valley tech companies.
The Mike J. Fuller and Anna X. Liao Endowed Scholarship/Award provides assistance to incoming freshman students pursuing an undergraduate academic major in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics), through scholarships, to be applied directly to a student's account for use for tuition and fees. Other funding, not applied to a student's account, may be used for books and room and board.
Students must submit an essay and resume detailing high school/college work experiences, honors and extracurricular and volunteer activities. Scholarship/award consideration will be given to academically talented University of Akron students who have strong work ethics and are personally motivated to join the broad intellectual life offered by STEM programs. Preference is given to students demonstrating hardship and/or financial need.
The Office of Student Financial Aid, in collaboration with representative(s) from respective STEM academic units, will select the recipient(s). At the discretion of the student's major academic (STEM) department, the scholarship/award may be renewable if the recipient maintains all requirements and is in good standing with The University of Akron.
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