Engineering Trajectory Awards provide $100,000 in student debt relief
Ten graduating seniors from The University of Akron’s College of Engineering and Polymer Science were each awarded $10,000 during the 14th annual Engineering Trajectory Awards ceremony held April 10 in the Jean Hower Taber Student Union. The awards are intended to help recipients reduce federal student loan debt as they prepare to begin their professional careers.
Pictured from left to right are 2026 Engineering Trajectory Award recipients Anthony Quear, Emily Spinelli, Michael Debord, Stephanie Good, Dylan Matthews, Hannah Ault, Bradley Barton, Mariah Hodge, Colten Tackett and Isabella Sandberg.
Ten graduating seniors from The University of Akron’s College of Engineering and Polymer Science were each awarded $10,000 during the 14th annual Engineering Trajectory Awards ceremony held April 10 in the Jean Hower Taber Student Union. The awards are intended to help recipients reduce federal student loan debt as they prepare to begin their professional careers.
“These awards reflect the power of investing in people and the impact that targeted philanthropic support can have on students as they transition into the workforce,” said Dr. Craig Menzemer, dean of the College of Engineering and Polymer Science. “They help remove financial barriers and allow our graduates to focus on launching their careers with confidence.”
The Engineering Trajectory Awards program, established in 2013, has now provided more than $1.4 million in support to outstanding engineering students thanks to the continued generosity of a Northeast Ohio couple committed to supporting student success.
“The students recognized through this program represent some of the best of our college,” said Dr. Joan Carletta, associate dean of the College of Engineering and Polymer Science. “They are selected through a rigorous process involving faculty and staff nominations, co-op employer recommendations and review with input from department chairs and the co-op office. Each year, it is both impressive and challenging to choose just 10 recipients from such a strong pool of nominees who have distinguished themselves through their accomplishments, leadership and service. We are deeply grateful to the donors whose continued generosity makes these awards possible and who invest in the success and futures of our students.”
During the ceremony, students had the opportunity to reflect on their experiences at UA and share their appreciation for the support they have received as they prepare for graduation and their next steps. Each recipient also received a personal statement from the donors explaining why they chose to invest in the students’ futures and sharing their hopes for their success after graduation.
Congratulations to the 2026 Engineering Trajectory Award recipients:
Hannah Ault
Aerospace Systems Engineering
Wintersville, Ohio
Bradley Barton
Mechanical Engineering
Detroit, Mich.
Michael Debord
Chemical Engineering
East Liverpool, Ohio
Stephanie Good
Mechanical Engineering
Kent, Ohio
Mariah Hodge
Mechanical Engineering
Wadsworth, Ohio
Dylan Matthews
Aerospace Systems Engineering
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Anthony Quear
Mechanical Engineering
New Castle, Pa.
Isabella Sandberg
Chemical Engineering
Hubbard, Ohio
Emily Spinelli
Mechanical Engineering
Solon, Ohio
Colten Tackett
Mechanical Engineering
Brunswick, Ohio
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