The B. Kenneth Simon Foundation sponsors the B. Kenneth Simon FreeEnterprise Scholarship. The scholarship is intended to assist prospective students to Robert Morris University who demonstrate an understanding of the values of free enterprise.

Three recipients will be chosen to receive the B. Kenneth Simon Free Enterprise Scholarship. A $7,000 scholarship will be awarded for first place, a $4,000 scholarship will be awarded for second place, and a $3,000 scholarship will be awarded for third place. All three scholarships are renewable for four years.

Students applying for the scholarship must possess a cumulative high school grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Students also must reside in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Washington, or Westmoreland counties.

Students will be asked to submit an application along with a project in response to a prompt established by the scholarship committee. The prompt and project instructions will be shared with all applicants via email after the application has been submitted. You are required to complete both the application and the project in order to be considered for the scholarship.

Application Deadline: Monday, January 6th 2025
Project Deadline: Friday, February 7th 2025
Decisions: Decisions will be released by the end of March 2025. All applicants will be notified when decisions have been made.

B. Kenneth Simon, Entrepreneur

B. Kenneth Simon was a business owner dedicated to Pittsburgh and to the business climate throughout  the tri-state region.

Simon was a firm believer that successful economies are built from the ground up through free enterprise and independent small businesses. He always wanted to help provide a place where young people could acquire the skills to help them grow their own local companies.

“I would like to see a lot of people who are capable take a shot at being in business for themselves,” said Simon. “It’s a lot of work to be in business for yourself, but there is a lot of gratification that comes from owning your own business.”

Simon, a 1949 graduate of Cornell University, always had a soft spot for Robert Morris University since taking a public speaking course at the university more than 40 years ago. The course, he said, helped to make him a successful businessman and boost his communication and business skills.

If you have any questions concerning the scholarship, please reach out to Missy Rickus in the Office of Admissions via email at rickus@rmu.edu or via phone at 412-397-5208.