Topics: Alumni, Scholarships
August 22, 2011
Noted alumnus Kent "Oz" Nelson has committed $250,000 to create a scholarship fund in his name at Ball State University. The scholarship will provide funding support for the Emens Scholarship program, which recognizes outstanding freshmen who've participated in, and provided leadership for, academic and extracurricular activities within their high schools and local communities.
Nelson served as chairman and CEO of UPS from 1989 to 1996. He began his career with the company in 1959 after earning a bachelor's degree in business administration from Ball State. He was part of UPS during its transition from an American parcel service to a global express delivery company.
Since his retirement, Nelson has served on the national United Way of America's Board of Governors and as the chairman for both the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta and the Center for Disease Control Foundation's board of directors.
Nelson received an honorary doctorate from Ball State in 1994 and also chaired Ball State's Above and Beyond fundraising campaign from 1999-2002. He has also chaired the Sigma Phi Epsilon House Fundraising Committee, the National Museum of Patriotism Fundraising Campaign, the "Ball State Bold" Capital Campaign and the Centers for Disease Control Campaign.
Award recipients of the Oz Nelson Scholarship are encouraged to continue to develop the same civic qualities they demonstrated as high school students while pursuing an undergraduate degree at Ball State.
Availability of the scholarship is dependent upon an award selection process established by Ball State and its academic departments. For specifics about this and other scholarships available at Ball State, contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at 765-285-5600 or visit
www.bsu.edu/finaid.
By Mallory Sturgeon