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
Vodofsky, Jay L. 1978 Scholarship Fund
The Jay L. Vodofsky 1978 Scholarship Fund was established in 2009 by Jay and Randi Vodofsky and their children, Jessica and Rachel, and revised in 2017.
Jay was born in Brooklyn, New York and attended Brooklyn College where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1975. While attending Brooklyn College, Jay became interested in tax law and worked for an accounting firm preparing income tax returns. He attended Akron Law intending to specialize in tax law with the goal of becoming a tax partner at a “Big Eight” accounting firm. Jay became Professor Merlin Briner’s research assistant, coordinating the 1977 annual tax development article published under Professor Briner’s supervision.
During the summer after his second year, he worked in the Akron National Bank’s trust and estates department, performing research and preparing trust accountings and estate tax returns. During his third year at Akron Law, Jay worked part-time in the tax department for Touche Ross & Company. After graduation, Jay accepted a full-time position in the Touche Ross & Company office in Newark, New Jersey. While there, he received a Masters of Tax Laws (L.L.M.) degree from New York University School of Law. In late 1983, Jay left Touch Ross & Company for Wall Street and Salomon Brothers, Inc., where he was instrumental in the development of the Executive Financial Services department, providing in-house tax planning for the company’s most senior executives. In 1995, Jay joined First Manhattan Company and in 2001, he was made a Senior Managing Director and member of the firm’s Operating Committee.
The Vodofskys have strong philanthropic views
The Jay L. Vodofsky 1978 Scholarship Fund is designated for law students at The University of Akron School of Law, with preference given to students from the metropolitan New York area. Scholarship awards may cover tuition, fees, books, and room and board, all or in part. The scholarship will be awarded annually by The University of Akron School of Law’s Scholarship Committee.
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