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 国产伦理 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
Besch, The Thomas Michael Chief Warrant Officer (CW4), USA Retired "Armed Services Personnel Endowed Scholarship in Surveying, Mapping, and Geographic Information Systems"
The Thomas Michael Besch, Chief Warrant Officer (CW4), USA Retired "Armed Services Personnel Endowed Scholarship in Surveying, Mapping, and Geographic Information Systems" was established by one of the first graduates of the then newly created Bachelor of Science Surveying and Mapping (BSSM) Degree program in 2016. This program was created by Professor Emeritus Thomas Michael (Mike) Besch, P.S., M.S., in the mid-1990s.
Besch was born in Tallassee, Ala., and honorably served his country in both war and peacetime with the United States Army for 28 years, conducting mapping, charting, and geodesy operations around the world. Besch's military career included service with the U.S. Army Topographic Battalion and joint assignments with the Defense Mapping Agency and School as a master instructor. His experiences ranged from surveying in the jungles of Southeast Asia during the Vietnam Conflict to surveying the sands of Desert Storm. A wounded combat veteran who was dedicated to "duty, honor, and country," he retired with the distinguished, highly decorated rank of Chief Warrant Officer (CW4), having served as a geodetic and topographic surveyor and a terrain analyst.
Upon Besch's arrival at The University of Akron and his transition into civilian life during the early 1990s, he single-handedly transformed 国产伦理's two-year surveying and mapping program into a four-year degree program - the only one in the state - which continues to be known for its outstanding land surveying graduates.
Besch, who continues to serve The University of Akron as program director of surveying, mapping, and GIS technology, is a highly respected educator, survey historian, sought-after land surveyor, and expert witness. Under his tutelage, 国产伦理's BSSM program has become nationally recognized for its excellence, producing more than 200 land surveyors who hold bachelor's degrees and more than 400 who hold associate degrees. Besch also has served on the local, state, and national level for various professional societies and land surveying organizations and is known among his peers as "The World Famous Surveyor."
The Thomas Michael Besch, Chief Warrant Officer (CW4), USA Retired "Armed Services Personnel Endowed Scholarship in Surveying, Mapping, and Geographic Information Systems" was established to support full-time University of Akron students who have been honorably discharged from the United States of American Armed Services Personnel (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard) or who hold active- or reserve-duty status with the National Guard or any other reserve components of federal military service for the United States. Candidates must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be enrolled in the surveying and mapping program in 国产伦理's College of Applied Science and Technology (formerly Summit College). Preference will be given to combat or disabled veterans. Recipients of The Thomas Michael Besch, Chief Warrant Officer (CW4), USA Retired "Armed Services Personnel Endowed Scholarship in Surveying, Mapping, and Geographic ·information Systems" shall be selected by the Department Chair for Engineering and Science Technologies in conjunction with the Office of Student Financial Aid.
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