Scholarship Update:

Graduate Student Awards:

The Ohio Rubber Group has selected two students at The University of Akron to receive the ORG Graduate Student Award for 2013.  PhD Candidates Joseph Scavuzzo (Polymer Science) and Kushal Bahl (Polymer Engineering) each received an award of $3000.  Both recipients presented overviews of their research at the Spring meeting of the Ohio Rubber Group on April 16.  Joseph gave a presentation on "Biomimetic Thermoplastic Elastomers," and Kushal gave a presentation on "Lignin - Carbon Black Hybrids:  Towards Development of Energy Efficient Rubber Compounds."  They were also presented with gratis student memberships to the ORG. (ORG membership is free to any interested student).  Joseph and Kushal were both very grateful to the ORG for these awards, and look forward to meeting its members in person.

The ORG Graduate Student Award was created to promote the academic efforts of graduate students in the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering.  Each year with the assistance of the Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering Departments, candidate students submit applications along with transcripts and letters of recommendation to the ORG Scholarship Committee.  This information is then used to select a group of students for face-to-face interviews with the Committee.  The very high caliber of the candidates makes the final selection very difficult, but the democratic process of voting is used to make the determinations.

**NEW** ORG Member Scholarship Award:

The Ohio Rubber Group has announced the creation of a new scholarship award for $2000.  Potential recipients must be ORG members and currently in the pursuit of higher education or training to advance their careers in the Rubber Industry.  Application Form.  Please contact Joel Neilsen (jgneilsen@sidrich.com), Scholarship Chair for further information.  Deadline to apply is May 1, 2013.

Funds for the scholarships are provided by The ORG Endowed Scholarship Fund and from Ohio Rubber Group's fund raising events.

Our goal is to grow The Fund to a self-sustaining level.  This goal has not yet been reached.

Photos below were taken at The University of Akron on February 6, during a luncheon to recognize the 2013 scholarship winners.

Pictured above (L to R): Denise Kotz - DuPont, Joel Neilsen - Sid Richardson Carbon & Energy Co., Joseph Scavuzzo - Polymer Science, Dr. Coleen Pugh - Professor, Department Chair: Polymer Science, and Jon Karas - DuPont Performance Polymers

 

 

Pictured above (L to R): Denise Kotz - DuPont, Joel Neilsen - Sid Richardson Carbon & Energy Co., Kushal Bahl - Polymer Engineering, Dr. Sadhan Jana - Professor: Polymer Engineering, and Jon Karas - DuPont Performance Polymers

Pictured above (L to R): Dr. Mark Foster - Associate Dean for Programs, Policy and Engagement, Joseph Scavuzzo - Polymer Science, Denise Kotz - DuPont, Joel Neilsen - Sid Richardson Carbon & Energy Co., Jon Karas - DuPont Performance Polymers, Kushal Bahl - Polymer Engineering, Dr. Bob Weiss - Hezzleton E. Simmons Professor of Polymer Engineering, Dr. Coleen Pugh - Professor, Department Chair: Polymer Science, and Dr. Sadhan Jana - Professor: Polymer Engineering

 

 Updates on Past Scholarship Winners: