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Kapper, Ray/First Tee - Greater Akron Endowed Scholarship

The Ray Kapper/First Tee - Greater Akron Endowed Scholarship was established in March 2017 in honor of Ray Kapper by his family and friends and the board of First Tee - Greater Akron (FTGA). The scholarship was revised in 2018 and again in 2023. Ray Kapper's leadership, vision, and commitment to FTGA, as well as his work recruiting board members, have significantly contributed to the organization's success, enabling it to achieve new heights. Thanks to Ray Kapper's leadership, he is largely considered to be the heart and soul of the community and FTGA.

Kapper, named a University of Akron Honorary Alumnus in 1993, dedicated his professional career to serving his community. Whether as an Akron resident, an elected official, a coach, or an administrator, he always placed the greater good above his own aspirations. For many years, Kapper provided wise counsel to civic and community leaders throughout the city and Summit County. Kapper began his career as athletic director for the Catholic Youth Organization and head football coach at St. Mary's High School and later joined the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, where he served as employee activities director. He then was elected as an Akron ward councilman and later a councilman at-large. Kapper ultimately was elected city council president.

In 1984, Akron Mayor Tom Sawyer appointed Kapper service director, where he oversaw the city's engineering, public works, sewer, and water bureaus. Ray also served the community as a public affairs consultant to local businesses, retiring due to health reasons in 1992.

Ray passed away on March 14, 2021, and is survived by his wife, Barbara, who resides in Akron. Ray and Barbara have four children: Deborah, Christopher, David, and Jon.

To be eligible for The Ray Kapper/First Tee - Greater Akron Endowed Scholarship preference is given to student-applicants who:

• Are participants, volunteers, or employees of FTGA or have any affiliation with FTGA;
• Are enrolled in any college or program at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ;
• Are from Summit County;
• Have a GPA of 2.75 or higher (whether from high school or previous college semester); and
• Have financial need.

To apply, students must submit to First Tee - Greater Akron an essay, video, or use of any innovative method to express why they deserve this scholarship. Submissions will be collected and reviewed by the Ray Kapper/First Tee - Greater Akron Endowed Scholarship committee, which is comprised of the First Tee - Greater Akron Executive Director or his/her designee and a Kapper family representative(s).

Finalists will be forwarded to the University's Office of Student Financial Aid, where financial need will be verified, and a recipient selected. The number of recipients and scholarship amounts will vary depending on the availability of funds.

The scholarship is renewable if the recipient remains in good standing with ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ and continues to meet the scholarship criteria.

To make a tax-deductible gift to this scholarship, please visit ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ’s . Select “A different designation” from the drop-down menu and enter “Ray Kapper/First Tee Scholarship” in the text box. Thank you!