Ray Kapper 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). Kapper’s leadership, vision, and commitment to FTGA, as well as his work recruiting many of the current board members, have significantly contributed to the organization’s success, enabling it to achieve new heights. Thanks to Kapper’s commitment, he is largely considered to be the heart and soul of the community organization.

Kapper, named a University of Akron Honorary Alumnus in 1993, has 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 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. He retired due to health reasons in 1992 but today continues to serve the community as a public affairs consultant to local businesses.

Mr. Kapper passed away on March 14, 2021.

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

Are a participant in or volunteer of First Tee – Greater Akron
Are enrolled full-time in any college or program at The University of Akron
Are an incoming freshman or current student
Are from Greater Akron
Have a GPA of 2.75 or higher (whether from high school or previous college semester)
Have financial need

To apply, students must submit a 100-word essay to First Tee – Greater Akron demonstrating how they follow the First Tee’s Nine Core Values. Essays will be reviewed by First Tee – Greater Akron 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 their scholarship amount will vary depending on the availability of funds. The scholarship is non-renewable.

For more information, please contact our office (330) 375-2638.