Tommy Bruce, president of the Associated Students of The University of Arizona, remembers former UA Assistant Vice President and Budget Director Richard J. "Dick" Roberts as an "amazing student advocate" who believed in the "complete student experience."

Bruce said it seemed only fitting to honor the late Roberts through a memorial scholarship that will help students pursue that experience at the UA.

ASUA has established the Richard "Dick" Roberts Memorial Scholarship to honor Roberts, who died in 2007 at age 61 after a 22-year tenure at the University.

The first scholarships will be awarded this year, and applications are due Friday.

"He gave everything he had to this university and he did it because he wanted to, not because he had to," said Bruce, who, along with other ASUA members, worked closely with Roberts, fondly referred to as "Uncle Dick."

"He was a genuine, caring person and you could talk to him about anything," Bruce said.

Bruce said the goal is to award students with about $10,000 in scholarship money each year. This year, ASUA will award four $1,000 scholarships and two $3,000 scholarships.

Applicants for the scholarships must be UA students enrolled in classes for the spring 2009 semester, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and have completed 12 undergraduate or seven graduate units in the previous semester.

Based on scholarship, leadership and service to the UA community, the financial awards will be given the week of Feb. 2, and recipients will be invited to attend the ASUA Gala in honor of Roberts on Feb. 6.

Applications are due by noon on Friday at the ASUA front desk on the third floor of the Student Union Memorial Center. Applications are available for download on the ASUA Web site or in person at the ASUA offices. For more information, call 621-2782.

Others who wish to attend the Feb. 6 gala in honor of Roberts, which takes place at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Memorial Center's Grand Ballroom, can purchase tickets for $40 per person or $280 per table of eight. All proceeds go to the scholarship fund.

Those wishing to attend should R.S.V.P. by Jan. 28 to ASUA.

Donations also can be made to the scholarship fund by check, payable to The University of Arizona and sent via campus mail to:

ASUA – Dick Roberts Scholarship
P.O. Box 210019
Building 19, Room 325W