Spring 2011 - The University of Akron

( feATure sTory )
Longtime Supporters of The University
of Akron Help Students in Need
Jim and Vanita Oelschlager have
been supporters of The University
of Akron for two decades. Their
first gift by the couple and their
independent equity investment
company, Oak Associates, Ltd.,
came in 1991. An additional gift
followed in 1995, and in 2000,
the couple donated $10 million
to establish the Oelschlager
Leadership Awards and its four
scholarships. Jim and Vanita
also established the Oelschlager
Summer Leadership Institute,
a summer program for high
school junior students designed
Jim and Vanita oelschlager to introduce participants to the
skills needed to be successful in
college while offering leadership
development training.
In 2010, the couple donated the Jim and Vanita Oelschlager
Native American Collection to the University. The Oelschlager
Collection is comprised of approximately 800 Native American
items, and will provide UA students with an invaluable learning
experience while expediting faculty and student research.
The couple once again has stepped forward to assist University
of Akron students by offering scholarship assistance for students
in need. Recipients boast cumulative grade point averages of 2.9,
or better, with strong financial need. In all, nearly 70 students
were offered support for the Spring 2011 semester. Many of
the award recipients sent letters of appreciation with thoughtprovoking
messages to the Oelschlagers.
In a 2009 interview, Jim Oelschlager said, “Vanita and I have
been blessed and we want to give back. It is important for people
to get an education, now more than ever. We try to help people
who need the help.”
For their two decades of support to The University of Akron,
Jim and Vanita Oelschlager are true pioneers as they strive to
improve the lives of others through education. Through their
initiatives, they have enabled hundreds of students to attain their
dreams of a college education.
“I am a non-traditional
student, married mother of
five wishing to improve my
family’s quality of life by
helping others as a respiratory
therapist. Because of
Mr. and Mrs. Oelschlager
and their generosity,
I have been able to apply
to the program at UA.”
– Christyn Denson
Christyn and her
husband Robert
Christyn and Robert’s
five children: Front row,
l to r: Lexington and
Londyn. Back row, l to r:
Christian, Brentyn and
Cambria.
A M AgA z in e for A lu M ni & f rie n ds of T h e u ni v e r siT y of A k ron w w w. ua k ron. edu
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