Coherent / II-VI Foundation Scholarship

The Coherent / II-VI Foundation Scholarship is designed to fulfill our mission of encouraging and enabling students entering the fields of science, engineering and mathematics at the undergraduate level. It is available to students in bachelor degree programs, not for students studying for a certificate or associate’s degree. The scholarship opportunity is available to Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors who are applying for the first time. Seniors who are applying to renew their scholarships are eligible.

Scholarships are limited to students entering the fields of engineering, mathematics and science. The competition for the Coherent / II-VI Foundation Scholarship is getting tougher each year. Of primary interest to the Coherent / II-VI Foundation are students majoring in the fields of electrical engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, physics, materials science engineering, mathematics, and mechanical engineering. However, at the discretion of the Scholarship Selection Committee, industrial engineering, computer science engineering and other engineering disciplines may be acceptable, depending on the quality of the work experience. Civil engineers, architectural engineers, computer software engineers, petroleum engineers and students in a pre-med program are excluded.

Coherent / II-VI Foundation Scholarship History

In August 2007, the first class of student scholarships was awarded. Seven students graduating into or already attending college were granted $5,000 each in potentially renewable scholarships.

In April 2008, the Board of Directors increased the individual award up to $10,000 per student with the opportunity to apply for renewal for three additional years. In 2014, we extended our program by offering international scholarships. Forty-nine domestic scholarships were awarded and eight scholarships were awarded to students in Vietnam that year. In 2016, the Board altered the scholarship amounts. Students entering their freshmen year are eligible for UP TO $5,000 with upper class students being eligible for UP TO $10,000.

Forty-seven students were awarded scholarships for the 2024-2025 school year. Applications came in from across the world to compose a very strong group of scholarship winners. 14% of the 2024-25 awardees maintained a 4.0 GPA, 84% maintained a 3.6 or above. Ten scholarships were awarded internationally.

Scholarship Requirements

• Scholarships are limited to students entering the fields of engineering, mathematics and science (Civil engineers, architectural engineers, petroleum engineers, software engineers, computer software engineers and students in a pre-med program are excluded).
• Students entering their senior year of college and applying for the first time are not eligible.
• 3.3 or above GPA (unweighted)
• For incoming freshmen, an SAT score of 1200 or ACT score of 26
• 360 Hours Work Experience in an Industrial Environment One very unique aspect of the Coherent / II-VI Foundation Scholarship is the requirement of nine (9) weeks/360 hours of manufacturing-, engineering- or science-related experience in an industrial setting from October 1st through August 31st of the year in which the candidate applies for the scholarship. This requirement forces the candidates to have hands-on, real-world experiences outside of an academic setting, therefore creating a different perspective from which to view his or her career decisions.
• Personal Interview
• Essay Composition
• No Record of Disciplinary Issues

Please note: Meeting the minimum requirements does not automatically guarantee you will be a recipient. This is a competition and a limited number of scholarships are available.