»ÆÉ«Ö±²¥

Woll, Alan and Janice Endowment for Zips in Need

The Alan and Janice Woll Endowment for Zips in Need was established in 2019 by Alan and Janice Woll for the purpose of supporting University of Akron students who are facing emergency financial circumstances.

Both Alan and Janice Woll are life-long Akron residents and committed to supporting the community. Alan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The University of Akron in 1969, during which time he served as a two-year member of the Zips Football team.  In 1971 Janice earned a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Akron, specializing in reading and counseling. In 1985, when the opening for an art teacher at St. Hilary School in Akron was posted, Janice jumped at the chance to apply as she was eager for the opportunity to teach art.  After many years of teaching in Akron Public Schools, Janice pursued her Master’s Degree in order to teach art to K-8^th graders at St. Hilary School.  Alan and Janice have three adult children, Rachel, Jerrod, and Michael.

Following a successful career as owner and CEO of Diamond & Network Polymers, Inc., Alan and Janice Woll have established The Alan and Janice Woll Endowment for Zips in Need to help students overcome emergency financial obstacles as they work toward degree completion.

Alan and Janice Woll decided to establish The Alan and Janice Woll Endowment for Zips in Need because The University of Akron was good to them, and they would like to return the benefits for current and future generations of »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥ students.

Annual distributions from The Alan and Janice Woll Endowment for Zips in Need are to be allocated as follows:

Fifty percent (50%) for The Alan and Janice Woll Retention Scholarship. Such scholarship assistance shall be awarded to students who are experiencing a financial emergency with the objective of keeping them enrolled in school. Scholarship assistance may be directed toward the cost of tuition, fees, and room and board. Scholarship award decisions will be made at the direction of the Assistant Vice President for Student Success, or his or her designee, in consultation with the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Fifty percent (50%) for The Alan and Janice Woll Fund for ZipAssist, which provides emergency financial assistance to students who are experiencing emergency financial need.  Such support includes but is not limited to expenses associated with childcare, food/meals, gas, housing/rent, medical/dental expenses, personal automobile expenses, and utilities. The purpose of this assistance is to help students overcome emergency financial hardships that may otherwise cause them to abandon college. Fund allocations will be made at the direction of the Director of ZipAssist, or the designee of the Vice President for Student Success.

As needs vary for students, the University staff in charge of these respective areas can use the distributions as needed for the two purposes noted above.  For example, if in a given year the need for tuition support is greater than the need for non-tuition support, the funds can be flexible between the two areas.