Physics Scholarships

The department of physics has several scholarship opportunities for physics students and welcomes applications from declared physics majors. Please see below for descriptions of our scholarships. We are proud to say that several of these scholarships were created by generous donations from Akron U physics alumni.

Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic performance and financial need, and the amount of the award is $2,000 per semester unless otherwise stated. The scholarships are renewable annually for the duration of the students’ undergraduate degree program contingent upon an appropriately high standard of performance. To apply for a scholarship, students must submit a one-page summary explaining why they wish to be considered for the scholarship. Applications, requests for information on which of the scholarship funds are currently available, and any other questions related to scholarships should be submitted to Professor Robert Mallik, Chair, Department of Physics.

The Department of Physics also confers annual one-time cash awards on physics majors and graduate students whose performance in the areas of academic achievement, teaching, and research is judged to be exceptional. Candidates for these annual “Householder” awards (see below) are nominated by physics faculty members and award recipients are determined by an assessment of their performance by the Department of Physics.

The Robert U. Blaser Family Endowed Scholarship
This endowment was created by a gift to The University of Akron Foundation by Mr. Robert U. Blaser in 1993 in memory of his wife, Naomi, and his daughter, Loretta. The scholarship assists a student majoring in Physics and participating in the University Honors Program. Robert Blaser graduated from the Physics program in 1937 with two other students. The program's significant growth has pleased him and encouraged him to offer support for this program. In the event there is no physics student in the Honors Program, the funds are to be used in support of a worthy undergraduate or graduate engineering or science student as determined by the Physics Department and the Office of Financial Aid.

The John Morris Davies and William Olin Davies Memorial Fund in Physics
The John Morris Davies and William Olin Davies Memorial Fund in Physics was established on March 3, 1995, by Mrs. Margaret A. Davies. Mrs. Davies established the fund on her 91st birthday, in loving recognition of her late husband, John Morris Davies '22, '24; and her deceased son, William Olin Davies '57. Both her husband and son shared a great love of physics.

John Morris Davies received an undergraduate and masters degree in physics from The University of Akron and received a Ph.D. at Temple University. He taught at The University of Akron, worked at The BF Goodrich Company for 23 years, and Army Quartermaster Research Laboratory in Natick, Massachusetts, until retiring in 1970.

William Olin Davies graduated from Oberlin College and received his master’s degree from The University of Akron in physics. He received his Ph.D. in physics from South Eastern Institutes of Technology. Mr. Davies served as Technical Director of the United States Army Strategic Defense Command, its top civilian position. Prior to entering government service, William Davies served as a physicist at the IIT Research Institute and Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. His outstanding contributions in the area of ballistic missile program earned him the distinction of receiving a Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executives from President Bush.

The Davies Scholarship shall be awarded on the basis of merit and financial need to a student majoring in physics. The scholarship will be renewable as long as the recipient meets the criteria established by the department chair.

The Royal C. and Betty J. Gardner Scholarship in Physics
The Royal C. and Betty J. Gardner Scholarship in Physics is established by Mr. and Mrs. Royal C. Gardner. Royal C. Gardner received a B.S. in physics from The University of Akron in 1939. Mr. Gardner worked for many years at Goodyear and at Lockheed. The Gardner Scholarship shall be awarded on the basis of merit and financial need to a student majoring in physics. The scholarship will be renewable as long as the recipient meets the criteria established by the department chair.

The Gary M. Harris Physics Scholarship
The Gary M. Harris Physics Scholarship was created by Gary M. Harris (Arts and Sciences - 1968) to assist outstanding undergraduate students who are majoring in Physics. Mr. Harris attended The University of Akron in the evenings and during summers, working full-time to pay for his education. He has had a life-long fascination with Physics and entered his college studies at a time when Quantum Mechanics was a new facet of the science just being explored. His current interest area is Cosmology. He completed his B.S. in 1968 and his M.S. in 1971. Mr. Harris has enjoyed a successful career at companies such as B&W, Goodyear Aerospace and Xerox. Mr. Harris, who is currently Director of Mergers and Acquisitions for Adobe Systems, credits his education in Physics with his ability to think analytically and to quickly understand a broad range of technologies. These skills have served him well in his career.

The Walt and Meg Heintz Memorial Physics Fund
Established in 1982 in memory of Dr. Walter H. Heintz, associate professor of physics, and his wife, Margaret, this fund provides annual prizes and awards for outstanding student performance, particularly in introductory physics courses, as determined by the faculty of the Department of Physics.

The Householder Physics Prize
A fund established under the will of Fred F. Householder, former professor and head of the Department of Physics, provides recognition and cash awards to outstanding students majoring in physics. Recipients are selected by faculty of the Department of Physics. Contributions to the fund are welcome.

The Howard J. Dreskin and Phyllis M. Levine Endowed Scholarship
The Howard J. Dreskin and Phyllis M. Levine Endowed Scholarship was established in 2006 by Howard J. Dreskin. Mr. Dreskin, a member of The University of Akron class of 1976, earned a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology from the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences, and a master’s degree in Microbiology from Rutgers University. He is also a certified Medical Technologist by the American Society of Clinical Pathology.

Howard Dreskin’s distinguished career has been centered in the pharmaceutical industry. Mr. Dreskin currently works as Director of Clinical Operations for Optimer Pharmaceuticals in San Diego. Most recently, Mr. Dreskin worked for Pfizer, Inc., where he served as Director, Clinical Study and Data Management in the Global Research and Development division. Other appointments include serving as a research assistant for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, working as an Associate Scientist for Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation; working as a Senior Clinical Research Associate for Johnson & Johnson, and serving as Associate Director of Worldwide Clinical Safety for SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals. In 2002, Mr. Dreskin co-authored a book chapter titled, Drug Surveillance in “Principles and Practice of Pharmaceutical Medicine”.

In creating the Howard J. Dreskin and Phyllis M. Levine Endowed Scholarship, Mr. Dreskin desires to help undergraduate students in the physical sciences realize the opportunity for current and future educational and career success, similar to what he experienced as a University of Akron student. Motivated students with a 2.5 G.P.A. or better and who show promise, as determined by faculty, and who have demonstrated financial need, as determined by the Office of Student Financial Affairs, will be eligible for the Howard J. Dreskin and Phyllis M. Levine Scholarship.

The Howard J. Dreskin and Phyllis M. Levine Scholarship will be awarded on a rotating basis among the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. The Dean of the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences, in consultation with the Department Chair and the Office of Student Financial Affairs, shall make the scholarship award.

Mr. Dreskin is married to Phyllis M. Levine. Originally from New Jersey and New York respectively, Howard and Phyllis live in California where they enjoy out-of-doors activities like hiking and tennis, as well as photography and art.