Coherent II-VI Foundation Grants

Coherent II-VI Foundation Grants is sponsored by Coherent II-VI Foundation. Provides grants to support education in science, engineering, and mathematics through targeted scholarship and grant programs.

Undergraduate Scholarship - Coherent II-VI Undergraduate Scholarship Undergraduate Scholarships APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR ARE NOW CLOSED Thank you for your interest. Check back next year. Visit the Timeline Summary below for the application.

What is our Undergraduate 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. Fifty-one students were awarded scholarships for the 2025-2026 school year. Applications came in from across the world to compose a very strong group of scholarship winners.

32% of the 2025-26 awardees maintained a 4. 0 GPA, 83% maintained a 3. 6 or above.

Ten scholarships were awarded internationally. 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.

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3 or above GPA (unweighted) For incoming freshman, 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. 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.

Reflections from Undergraduate Scholarship recipients: I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone involved with the II-VI Foundation. Throughout my higher education, the II-VI Foundation has relieved the financial burden of school which has allowed me to focus on my studies and extracurricular activities. This foundation has helped me to strive to be a better engineer and person at school and during my internships.

I have been fortunate enough to have interned at Marathon Petroleum Corporation three separate times as well as one internship with Encompass Engineers and Architects. During these internships I have discovered my passion in Electrical Engineering for power and control systems and look forward to pursuing this passion throughout my career.

The II-VI Foundation has always positively encouraged me to learn and do more as an engineer and I will forever be grateful for all they have done for me. The Ohio State University, Class of 2022 It is hard to express in words what the II-VI Foundation has done for me. When I look back on my undergraduate education, I will always remember the incredible generosity and support of the II-VI Foundation.

I can say with absolute certainty that the II-VI Foundation does impactful work and that they truly care for the success of young engineers. As a result of the II-VI Foundation’s investment in my education, I have been able to fully pursue my degree in Mechanical Engineering, focus on being involved in engineering project teams, and seek hands-on experience in internships.

During my undergraduate education, I have held internships at several aerospace companies, namely, Hi-Tek Manufacturing, GE Aviation, and SpaceX. At Hi-Tek, I had my first experience in manufacturing on a machine shop floor. At GE Aviation, I obtained valuable knowledge of New Product Introduction and lifecycle analysis.

At SpaceX, I had an exhilarating experience designing avionics for Starship, SpaceX’s next-generation interplanetary vehicle. All these experiences were a direct result of the II-VI Foundation’s support of and belief in my education. Without this support, I would not be where I am today.

The support from the II-VI Foundation has been the catalyst for my educational and career accomplishments. Without the burden of financing my education, I have been able to pursue my interests in engineering project teams, work on building my resume, and hold leadership roles in the student organizations which I am heavily involved in. I cannot recommend the II-VI Foundation enough to any young, ambitious engineering student.

Dr. Carl Johnson and the II-VI Foundation have my deepest thanks for all that they have done for me and my education. The Ohio State University, Class of 2022 The roman numerals II and VI had no particular meaning to me before my undergraduate studies. Now, they represent scholarship, drive, opportunity, and hope of the future.

The II-VI Foundation has played an integral role in my undergraduate efforts at the University of Pittsburgh as I pursue Mechanical Engineering. Over the past few years, the Foundation has given me so much more than a scholarship. The continuous support and belief in my potential encourages me to become the best engineer that I can be.

My internships at Optotherm and Bayer have provided real-world experiences in the design and development stages of the semiconductor test equipment and medical device industries, which have proven invaluable to my studies. The scholarship’s requirements motivate me to make the most of each class, leading to some great discussions with my peers and professors.

The Foundation’s contributions enabled me to focus on other aspects of undergraduate life: obtaining a double minor in Bioengineering and Religious Studies; serving as Vice President of BeTheMatch, the national bone marrow registry service organization; volunteering with the Society of Women Engineers; and participating in art club and intramural sports.

I am honored to be recognized by such a generous organization dedicated to the future generations of engineers. I am especially grateful to Dr. Eric Kofmehl, Rick Purnell, and Susan Zuk for their support and encouragement throughout my undergraduate studies. I will certainly miss the scholarship’s annual interview because it was during these that I realized how far I had come over the past year, with much help from the II-VI Foundation.

Thank you to Dr. Carl Johnson and the II-VI Foundation for granting me such a prestigious honor. University of Pittsburgh, Class of 2022 The generosity shown to me by the II-VI Foundation allowed me to pursue educational and industry opportunities that I would not have otherwise been able to. By not having to worry about how my education would be funded, I was able to instead focus on achieving my academic potential.

Because of the II-VI Foundation’s support, in my four years at Penn, I earned a bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering and a master’s degree in Data Science, alongside minors in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Statistics. Additionally, through guidance from the foundation, I interned at Kiewit Engineering and Strivr, serving in Electrical Engineering and Software Engineering roles respectively.

It was through these internships where I learned that I wanted to eventually work in an industry research role, many of which require a doctoral degree. To work towards this goal, next year I will be pursuing a Ph. D.

in Electrical Engineering. My specific research interest was discovered by taking a wide breadth of coursework. Without the financial flexibility provided by the II-VI Foundation, I likely would not have taken as diverse of a course load and may not have found this interest of mine.

In short, my career path would look vastly different without the generosity of the II-VI Foundation. Thank you for your investment in my education! University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2022 Industrial/Systems Engineering The II-VI Foundation Scholarship has been beyond beneficial for my family and me as I have been going through my education.

The II-VI Foundation Scholarship experience has introduced me to many great people, who I can tell all have the best interests of students in mind. The network alone within the Foundation has been very valuable to me. Because of II-VI, I learned of internship opportunities at the company where I had my first internship, Optotherm, Inc. This internship was an amazing learning opportunity.

I was given lots of responsibility and was able to gain many new skills. Throughout the internship, which evolved into a Co-op experience, I was given the responsibility of helping implement an ISO:9001 Quality Management System. Due to this internship and my amazing leadership team, I was nominated for a Co-op of the Year Award through Ohio-State.

Thanks to the Ohio State Engineering Career Services, I was made a 2020 award winner. This award has opened doors for me at university and as I progress into other internship opportunities. All of this was made possible through my connections to the II-VI Foundation.

I am thankful to II-VI for giving me flexibility and confidence as I continue through my education, and work towards my engineering degree from Ohio State. The Ohio State University, Class of 2023 Industrial Systems Engineering As I am wrapping up my degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Ohio State University, I cannot help but consider the impact that the II-VI Foundation has had on my success over the past four years.

I will be graduating magna cum laude and entering my career as an engineer with a breadth of hands-on work experience through several internships and co-ops. These professional experiences have been with companies such as FedEx Ground, Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, Whirlpool Corporation, PepsiCo, and Rockwell Automation. I can confidently say that without the II-VI Foundation, these accomplishments would not have been possible.

The assistance from the foundation has given me the opportunity to focus my time and efforts on my studies as well as gaining experience as an aspiring engineer, all while enjoying a well-rounded, involved college experience. This has ultimately allowed me to be much more confident in myself moving forward personally, professionally, and financially as a young adult, which I am so incredibly grateful for.

This support from the II-VI Foundation is something that I will look back on and be appreciative of for the rest of my life. I highly encourage any student to apply to be a part of this amazing program. I truly cannot express the magnitude of the impact it can have on a young student, and I applaud the foundation for the work that they do.

The Ohio State University, Class of 2022 | 4th Year Industrial & Systems Engineering The II-VI Foundation is much more than a scholarship: it’s a network of extraordinary people all passionate about helping others succeed.

Throughout my experience, I have greatly improved my professional and industrial skills, built connections and friendships with other scholarship winners, and developed strong ties with mentors who have offered tremendous guidance towards both my academic studies and my future career—and even helped me secure a life-changing summer internship. I’m beyond grateful for everything the II-VI Foundation has done for me!

Case Western University, Class of 2024 I wanted to let you know how thankful I am for the foundation and all it has done for me. Please know that the assistance provided me by the Foundation has not gone unnoticed and it is because of the Foundation which I have been able to work so hard in my academics and towards my dream career. On this same note, can you please share this news with the Foundation and team?

This past semester, I was awarded the Craig C. Brown Outstanding Senior Engineer Award from Texas A&M University. The award is the highest award which can be bestowed upon a graduating senior in the College of Engineering and it recognizes those students who have excelled in their academics, but also represent the University in scholarship, leadership, and character.

Texas A&M University, Class of 2022 Grand Challenge Scholar, National Academy of Engineering Global Ambassador, Halliburton Global Programs Office 2026 Scholarship Application Deadlines April 1, 2026, 1:00pm ET — ONLY for Coherent Corp. Practicum Program Students - Application Deadline Job Description – email to admin@@co26fdn. org . Interview Scheduled – contact admin@co26fdn.

org for available dates in April. Students working at a Coherent Corporation plant since high school and as part of the Coherent Practicum Program would be eligible for and benefit from this early selection date.

April 15th, 2026, 1:00pm ET — ONLY for Coherent Corp. Practicum Program Students - Documentation Deadline Official Transcript – Sealed Snail Mailed or Certified Secure Digital Copy 3 References, including one from supervisor May 29, 2026, 1:00pm ET — New & Renewal Application Deadline June 25, 2026, 1:00pm ET — New & Renewal Documentation Deadline Official Transcript – Sealed Snail Mailed or Certified Secure Digital Copy 3 References, including one from supervisor 2026 Application Timeline Summary The Timeline Summary also includes links to forms that must be completed.

Please read through carefully. May 29, 2026, 1:00pm EDT — Intention Deadline DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DEADLINE. WE WILL ONLY ACCEPT THE FIRST 60 COMPLETE, QUALIFIED APPLICATIONS!

This is the deadline to declare your intention to apply by submitting: Job description (Proof of employment and a description of what you will be doing during your employment must be presented to the Coherent/ II-VI Foundation office in the form of a job description provided by your employer, company HR department or your supervisor/mentor.

The job description could include: tasks, goals and projects you will be working on; if you’re being mentored/supervised by engineers or scientists, etc.) Scheduling an interview. Email scholar@co26fdn. org to schedule a Zoom interview.

Interviews will be conducted during the week of May 26th, Tuesday through Thursday, 10 am – 4 pm and the weeks of June 1st and June 8th, Monday through Thursday, 10 am – 4 pm. June 25, 2026, 1:00pm EDT — Documentation Deadline New and renewal student scholarship applications and all required documents are due. ALL application requirements MUST be received in the office by 1:00 pm EDT on the date due.

1. Three (3) signed letters of recommendation: one from your immediate supervisor describing your practical work experience and your performance during this experience, and two additional letters of character reference. Please request the recommender explains how they know you.

ALL recommendation letters must have a physical, hand-written signature or they will NOT be accepted. Submit the recommendations via email to scholar@co26fdn. org or upload to the appropriate form on the website.

2. New applicants must write two essays on the following prompts. Renewing applicants write on prompt B.

The essays are not to exceed one single-spaced page each and should be uploaded to the form on the website. NEW APPLICANTS ONLY – Why have you chosen an engineering, science, or mathematics field of study? ALL APPLICANTS – What you have learned from your hands-on work experience in an industrial environment?

Include in your essay a brief description of two technical examples and two soft skill examples of what you’ve learned. 3. Completed Documentation Form on the website.

This includes: A statement of anticipated cost of tuition, books and fees associated with your specific institution for the entire year. A list of other scholarships and grants you are receiving. Proof that you have completed or are committed to completing at least nine (9) weeks or the equivalent of 360 hours of practical, hands-on work experience in an industrial environment during the period from October 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026.

Proof that you are enrolled in a major in an engineering-, science-, or mathematics-related course of study for the upcoming academic year. A copy of pre-registration for the fall semester, your fall class schedule or your acceptance letter will be accepted for this requirement. (Civil engineers, architectural engineers, petroleum engineers, and students in a pre-med program are excluded.

Software engineers and computer science majors are usually excluded with some exceptions due to work experience or focus of study.) 4. Certified sealed copy or certified, secure digital copy of either your complete High School or University/College transcripts, whichever is most current.

ORDER YOUR TRANSCRIPT TO BE SENT DIRECTLY FROM YOUR SCHOOL/UNIVERSITY TO: scholar@co26fdn. org . A minimum Cumulative GPA of 3.

3 is required. For High School students: (1) The unweighted GPA is used (4. 0 scale).

(2) Official SAT or ACT scores must be provided. A minimum SAT score of 1200 is required or a minimum ACT composite score of 26. (3) If your SAT scores do not appear on your transcript, then they must be sent directly from the College Board by the deadline.

ORDER TRANSCRIPTS AND SAT SCORES EARLY. THEY TAKE TIME TO GET TO US! (SAT Code #6347; ACT Code #7950) Last Two Weeks of July — Selection The Selection Committee meets to decide student scholarship awards and funding levels.

First Week of August — Notification Students are notified of awards. Scholarship recipients must complete the DATA SHEET located on website. Failure to complete and return the data form will result in delay of funding.

August 1st – 15th — Funding Once we receive your data sheet : We will email to the school contact person an agreement stating your scholarship may be used for tuition, books and fees only. According to IRS laws, this agreement must be signed by the school before we can send them your scholarship award.

Once we receive a signed agreement, your scholarship award will be sent by direct deposit or a check mailed directly to the school, as your school prefers. Scholarship awards can be applied to one semester or divided equally between two semesters, whatever you and your school prefer. As long as the award is used within the 2025-2026 school year and is applied only to tuition, books and fees, this is your choice.

Select schools require notification of this prior to receiving your award. We will notify you if this is required by your school. We will notify you when we deposit/mail it so you can watch your student account for credit.

If we do not receive a signed agreement from your school, it is your responsibility to contact them and ensure this is done so you can receive your award. Deposits/Checks CANNOT be sent until this signed agreement is received. August 31st — Work Experience Verification Work experience qualification period concludes .

A minimum of 360 hours must be completed to qualify for the current scholarship funding cycle. If you had not completed your hours before filing your application, you will need to submit a signed letter via PDF scanned email or regular mail, from a company representative stating how many hours you worked.

Work Experience Verification October 1st — Work Experience Qualification Period Begins Between October 1 and August 31st, 360 hours/9 weeks must be completed to qualify for the next scholarship funding cycle.