Cream of the crop

Performing one of its most critical functions, the Case Alumni Association awarded 136 new Junior/Senior Scholarships in March, propelling deserving students toward graduation from the Case School of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences. 

The scholarships, granted to rising juniors and seniors by the Scholarship Committee of the Case Alumni Association Board of Directors, are designed to help students finish their degree programs at Case Western Reserve. 

The Committee awarded a total of $688,100 to the students based on financial need, leadership potential and academic performance. The median award was $4,800; the top scholarship was $10,000. 

Because of the pandemic, the annual Junior/Senior Scholar Reception has been postponed. But the scholars now have additional support they can count on. 

“These are the cream of the crop and we want to alleviate some of the pressure for them,” said Arkady Polinkovsky ’08, MS ’10, a senior mechanical engineer at Altran and the Chairman of the Scholarship Committee. More than 20 alumni, faculty and CAA staff took part in scholarship interviews. Polinkovsky, himself a Junior/Senior Scholar, said the scholarships help students to focus on their research and classes by offering financial relief. 

“This is the Case community taking care of its own,” he said. “I think the students realize that. I think they also realize they’ll be expected to help support the next generation. This is money well spent.”