Spring 2011 - The University of Akron

( feATure sTory )
Athletic Ticket Office Gets a
New Name in Honor of Couple
Cornelius “C.p.” and Cornelia Chima
In honor of the philanthropic efforts of Cornelius “C.P.” Chima and his wife, Cornelia
“Neal” Chima, and in recognition of the couple’s ongoing commitment to The University
of Akron, The University of Akron’s Athletics Ticket Office has been named The C.P.
and Neal S. Chima Department of Athletics Ticket Office.
C.P. and Neal Chima have been an integral part of the Akron community for many
decades. C.P. attended The University of Akron in 1941 before serving with valor in
both World War II and the Korean Conflict, as a pilot of bombers and fighter planes.
Mr. Chima’s father, Peter Chima, founded Chima Travel Bureau. C.P., his brother,
George, and their families run Chima Travel; C.P. is chairman. C.P. also is Founder and
Secretary Treasurer of Car Lease, Inc., and Founder and Secretary/Treasurer of City
Yellow Cab Co.
Mr. and Mrs. Chima have been supporters of the University since 1963. C.P. has been
a member of the Center for Economic Education Advisory Board at The University of
Akron, and Neal has taught college classes in geography and education.
The C.P. and Cornelia Chima Family Building, named in recognition of the Chimas’
2008 gift to the University’s College of Education, is located at Fir Hill and Forge streets
in Akron and houses the College of Education’s counseling program. The Chimas made
an additional gift at the end of 2010, and the University has received gifts from Chima
Travel, primarily for scholarships.
UA Inventor Receives Ohio
Patent Legacy Award
dr. Joseph Kennedy
Dr. Joseph Kennedy, UA distinguished professor of polymer science and chemistry, and
attorney Ray Weber, will receive the Ohio Patent Legacy Award for 2011 from the
Ohio Academy of Science and Intellectual Property Law Section of the Ohio State Bar
Association.
Kennedy’s selection was based on U.S. Patent Re. 34,640 (Thermoplastic Elastomers
of Isobutylene and Process of Preparation), awarded to him and Dr. Judith Puskas,
professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering; Dr. G. Kaszas; and W. Hager.
The researchers used living cationic polymerization to create a revolutionary new
thermoplastic elastomer based on isobutylene and styrene. This elastomer was
successfully commercialized as the polymer coating for Boston Scientific’s most popular
drug-eluting coronary stent.
Kennedy’s recognition also was based on his entire collection of 103 patents.
He accepted his award April 16 at Otterbein University.
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