Scholarship opportunities

Dr. Charles C. Rogler Scholarship Fund

Dr. Charles C. Rogler, who was a long-time member of the Sociology Department and former department chair. In 1977, he and his wife, Dr. Margaret F. Rogler, established the Dr. Charles C. Rogler Scholarship. The Rogler Scholarship is awarded to students for academic excellence and well as financial need. Each year, we are pleased to be able to offer these awards to several outstanding undergraduates.

The Carl A. Bersani Endowed Scholarship

The Carl A. Bersani Endowed Scholarship was established in 2015 as a lasting tribute to the contributions made by Dr. Carl A. Bersani to the University of Akron’s Sociology Department. These contributions include the creation of the Akron-Kent Joint Ph.D. program in sociology as well as the M.A. and undergraduate degree programs in law enforcement and corrections, numerous publications and scholarly presentations in the areas of crime and deviance, and a four-year tenure as the head of the Sociology Department at The University of Akron. The scholarship was established with gifts from family and friends of Dr. Bersani and is awarded to one full-time undergraduate student in the Department of Sociology with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher. Consideration for this scholarship is given to candidates who demonstrate a need for assistance.

Dr. Robert Schmidt Endowed Scholarship in Sociology

Dr. Robert Schmidt enjoyed a 13-year career at The University of Akron as both an administrator and faculty member in the Department of Sociology. He came to the University in 1967, during the first year of Akron's expansion from a municipal university to a state university. He retired in 1980. Dr. Schmidt established The Dr. Robert Schmidt Endowed Scholarship in Sociology in 2011 and it will perpetuate his history of service to students. Application is open to sociology majors who will be sophomores, juniors, or seniors. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and be in good standing at The University of Akron. Renewal is possible provided criteria is maintained. Selection will be made by the department head of the Sociology Department in The University of Akron's Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences or the appropriate designee.

The Janet C. Fisher Endowed Scholarship Fund

The Janet C. Fisher Endowed Scholarship Fund was founded in 1994 with the express purpose of assisting students within the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences Department of Sociology. This endowed scholarship is provided by the estate of Janet C. Fisher, a native of Canton, Ohio. Janet Fisher was a 1985 graduate of the University. She wished to thank the University for the fine education she received, which helped contribute to her success. Scholastic achievement and leadership characteristics are the criteria for the award.

The Barbara J. Stephens Endowed Award

The Barbara J. Stephens Endowed Award was established in 2003 as The Barbara J. Stephens Dissertation Award and revised in February 2022 to accommodate programming changes in the Department of Sociology. The award assists Sociology students at The University of Akron who are pursuing interests and careers in health and social policy research. The award was established with gifts from friends and family of Mrs. Stephens who wished to ensure that her legacy of caring would live on.