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Prem Cesnan Award

The Prem Cesnan Award was established in 2018 through a generous commitment from

Mr. Cesnan, a University of Akron alumnus who created the award based on his passion for higher education and his affinity for The George W. Daverio School of Accountancy.

Prem Cesnan was a recipient of The Stanley Gault Goodyear Global Scholarship Program in 1998 and graduated magna cum laude in International Business and Corporate Finance in 2002. Since earning his degrees, Mr. Cesnan has pursued a successful career in internal audit.

This award also honors James W. Barnett, who served, supported, and contributed to

Mr. Cesnan's experience as a student at the University.  Mr. Barnett was named Dean of the College of Business Administration in January 2003 and served as Dean until 2006.  Previously, he was the director of the College's Institute for Global Business, and before coming to the University, an executive with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

Having been blessed and fortunate to receive a once in a lifetime opportunity, Mr. Cesnan believes in the importance of higher education for women, international students, and minorities, who demonstrate financial need or hardship.  Mr. Cesnan is hopeful that recipients of the award will someday pay it forward to other deserving students.

The Prem Cesnan Award will be given annually to one outstanding junior or senior accounting major enrolled in the College of Business Administration.  The selected student can receive up to $2,000 depending on the availability of funds, which may be used towards tuition and fees and applied directly to the recipient’s student account. 

The selected recipient may use the award for education expenses not charged to their student account but needed for coursework, with prior approval by the Chair of the School of Accountancy.  Distribution of the award for such purposes may be as a reimbursement to the recipient with presentation of a receipt or receipts, or as payment made on the recipient’s behalf.  Awards used for these purposes may be reportable and/or taxable to the student recipient. 

To be eligible for consideration, the student must:

• Maintain a 3.3 overall and a 3.5 GPA in accounting classes
• Be enrolled full-time (12 or more credit hours) in the CBA and meet the minimum coursework requirements of The University of Akron
• Demonstrate involvement in extracurricular activities

Selection of the recipient will be made by the Chair of the School of Accountancy, with the assistance of the School of Accountancy’s Scholarship Committee. The distribution parameters may be subject to change at Mr. Cesnan’s discretion as tuition costs change.