Soderquist, Leslie E. and Ronald E. Soderquist Endowed Scholarship
The Leslie E. Soderquist Engineering Scholarship Fund was established in 1977 in loving memory of Leslie E. Soderquist, director, vice president, and for 31 years head of engineering for the McNeil Corporation, by his wife, Helen, who passed away in 1984, and his son, Ronald. In 2006, following the unexpected death of Ronald, The Leslie E. Soderquist Engineering Scholarship Fund was renamed by Ronald’s wife, Patricia. Today, The Leslie E. Soderquist and Ronald E. Soderquist Endowed Scholarship Fund honors the lives and legacies of both Leslie E. Soderquist and his son, Ronald E. Soderquist.
Best friends and soul mates, Ronald and Patricia Soderquist grew up next door to each other, became high school sweethearts, attended The University of Akron together in the early 1950s, and were married for more than 50 years before Ron died in May 2005. Ron followed in his father’s footsteps, enjoying a distinguished career in engineering. As the chief engineer at RMI (Rotational Molding Inc.) in Gardena, Calif., Ron excelled as a project manager and inventor in the field of polymer engineering, specifically rotational molding. Ron was a kind, thoughtful, and altruistic person who believed strongly in the importance of education as a means for bettering one's circumstances in life. During his lifetime, many engineering students at The University of Akron benefited from his philanthropy. He also helped with tuitions for his nephews, nieces, and grandchildren.
The purpose of The Leslie E. Soderquist and Ronald E. Soderquist Endowed Scholarship Fund is to provide financial assistance to deserving undergraduate students in the College of Engineering who have demonstrated high academic achievement, engineering ability, leadership, and financial need. The dean of the College of Engineering or his/her designee, in coordination with the director of Student Financial Aid, will award The Leslie E. Soderquist and Ronald E. Soderquist Endowed Scholarship. Recipients of the Soderquist Scholarship are eligible to receive the scholarship on a multi-year basis based on continuing need, ability, and satisfactory academic progress.