Hower, James H. and Claudia M. Scholarship for Honors Students
The James H. and Claudia M. Hower Scholarship for Honors Students was established in 2018 by James and Claudia Hower to provide support to students whose accomplishments and talents encourage others to achieve, advancing excellence across The University of Akron campus.
Scholastic scholarships and awards also encourage students to fully engage in academic studies and research, and pursue other important intellectual interests, such as study abroad and extracurricular student activities.
James Hower -- son of John B. and Mary Ayers Hower, grandson of Milton Otis and Blanche Eugenia Brout Hower, and great grandson of John Henry and Susan Hower -- is known for his commitment to higher education and community engagement. James retains the family tradition of benevolence begun by John Henry, a key industrialist and Akron community leader in the 19th century when Buchtel College, now °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ, was founded in 1870.
Serving his community has always been a powerful motivator for James. In addition to running his family's manufacturing business, the Akron Selle Company, until his retirement in 1995, he served as a volunteer firefighter with the Bath Township Fire Department for nearly 50 years, including as the assistant fire chief.
Equally dedicated to education and community service, Claudia Hower is a powerful voice in promoting education. She is a retired mathematics educator, after a 30-year career in several schools in Northeast Ohio and Pennsylvania, including 19 years at Revere Local School District. She serves on the Revere Board of Education after being elected in 2009.
James and Claudia are distinguished °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ friends and benefactors, as well as members of the 1870 Giving Society and Benefactor's Club of °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ's John R. Buchtel Society.
The James H. and Claudia M. Hower Scholarship for Honors Students will be awarded annually to qualified full-time undergraduates in any discipline in The Drs. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Honors College. Scholarships and awards are renewable and awarded based on scholastic achievement, superior character and leadership.
Scholarships are awarded annually and applied directly to student accounts. Award amounts and number of recipients may vary depending on available funds. Recipients will be selected by the University Scholarship Committee. If for any reason the Honors College should cease to exist, The James H. and Claudia M. Hower Scholarship for Honors Students is to be administered as a general scholarship directed to highly accomplished and exceptional students in good academic standing.
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