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
Respiratory Care Fund
The Respiratory Care Fund was established in 2024 with an initial gift from The National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), to support education programs across the United States as part of its continued goal to raise awareness of the value of the respiratory care profession and recruit and retain more respiratory therapists.
In 2023, the NBRC Board of Trustees voted to support and provide funds for educational scholarships, grants, and awards for current and future practitioners through accredited education programs. In addition, the NBRC annually funds respiratory therapy scholarships through the American Respiratory Care Foundation (ARCF), the American College for Respiratory Therapy Education (ACRTE), and the Lambda Beta Society (the national honor society for respiratory care).
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, respiratory therapy jobs are projected to grow 13% by 2032, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. To address the shortage of respiratory therapists and advance specialization, the NBRC is also leading a multiyear, national campaign to raise awareness of the value of the profession, to improve recruitment and retention, and to identify, shape, and inspire new leadership in respiratory care.
The Respiratory Care Fund was established as part of We Rise Together, the Campaign for The University of Akron.
The Respiratory Care Fund may be used to award scholarships to full- or part-time undergraduate students majoring in Respiratory Therapy. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0. Financial constraints need not be considered. Scholarship awards will be determined by a faculty committee from the Respiratory Therapy program.
The fund may also be used to aid the Respiratory Therapy program and its faculty through supporting recruiting and retention activities; purchasing practice exams; offsetting costs associated with the participation in Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) activities; purchasing of classroom teaching equipment; and purchasing of textbooks.
To make a tax-deductible gift to this fund, please visit °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ’s . Select “A different designation” from the drop-down menu and enter “Respiratory Care Fund” in the text box. Thank you!
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