A strike in baseball? Bad. A strike in bowling? Good!
Forty-seven University of Akron students, who had pre-qualified, took part in the fourth annual Edward G. Elias Scholarship Bowling Tournament on November 16, aiming for the good kind of strikes – and an opportunity to win one of 12 tuition scholarships.
Winners in the 2013 Edward G. Elias Scholarship Bowling Tournament: (l-r) Richard Skelton, Kyle Crider, Lauren Heddleston, Diamond Yates, Greg Jackson, Carissa Signore, Skyler Warren, Jasmine Brown, Monica Metts, Lindsey Chafe, Andrew Hatfield, and Carl Carnevale.
The hopefuls were knocking down pins at The Edward G. Elias Bowling Center in the Student Union Gameroom, the site for the annual competition, which is open to all UA students and the only collegiate scholarship bowling tournament in the country.
Organized with the help of Peggy Elias and funded through donations, the yearly contest honors Peggy’s late husband, “Eddie” Elias, a 1951 University of Akron graduate who made his mark as a talent agent and founder of the Professional Bowlers Association. More importantly, the scholarship tournament is a tribute to Eddie’s lifelong commitment to his alma mater and a nod to his belief in helping others.
To give more students an opportunity to win, the tournament is organized into two flights, with a total of $3,600 in scholarships – ranging from $150 to $500 – awarded to the top three male and female bowlers in each flight. For the 2013 contest, winning bowlers and their majors were:
| Flight I - Men $500 - Greg Jackson, business $200 - (tie) Carl Carnevale, law Richard Skelton, law |
Flight II - Men $500 - Kyle Crider, electrical engineering $250 - Skyler Warren, graphic design $150 - Andrew Hatfield, exercise science |
| Flight I - Women $500 - Jasmine Brown, criminal justice $250 - Lindsey Chafe, nursing $150 - Diamond Yates, social work |
Flight II - Women $500 - Lauren Heddleston, photography $250 - Monica Metts, pre-pharmacy $150 - Carissa Signore, education |
“The scholarship money is a tremendous help,” said a smiling and appreciative Carl Carnevale after the tournament, “I’m a student in the School of Law, which is as expensive as it is stressful. While $200 may not seem like much against my balance, I assure you it is felt in a positive way, and I am grateful for the generosity of those who sponsor the bowling tournament.”
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to bowl in the tournament,” added Monica Metts. “As a third-year competitor, I realize the hard work that is put into making such a great tournament for students at The University of Akron. It’s great to know my University cares about creating such opportunities, especially ones that provide generous scholarships and lasting memories to students. Thank you to everyone who made the Edward G. Elias tournament possible!”
The University of Akron is grateful for support from Peggy Elias and the following individuals and companies, whose donations funded this year’s tournament:
- Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. DeBartolo Jr.
- Mrs. Denise DeBartolo York
- House of LaRose
- Mr. and Mrs. Roland O. Bertolini
- Mrs. Nancy A. Herwick
- Ms. Corrine V. Reichert
- Icon Sports Management
- Dennis and Kimberly Falasco
- Mr. and Mrs. Eric D. McClenaghan
- Mr. and Mrs. Ted Hoffman Jr.
- Mr. Leonard R. Nicholson
- Mrs. Elizabeth Alessio
- Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Nemer
- Dr. and Mrs. Theodore Curtis
- Dr. and Mrs. Victor E. Badertscher
- Mrs. Paula D. Carter
- Mr. and Mrs. Domenico Lazzerini
In addition to supporting the annual bowling tournament, Peggy Elias has been a generous donor to The University of Akron’s College of Business Administration, where the dean’s office is named for the Elias family.