TALLAHASSEE, FLA. — Finley Engineering Group (Finley) has established the Aaron Roth Bridge Engineering Scholarship, which will provide $5,000 per year to defray the cost of tuition and books for a student pursuing his or her master’s degree in bridge engineering.

The scholarship honors former Finley engineer Aaron Roth, who collapsed while playing soccer and tragically passed away in 2008 at the age of 23.

“Aaron was one of the most promising young engineers I’ve ever seen,” said Finley Managing Principal Craig Finley. “Since his passing, we’ve wanted to do something to honor his life. Aaron was taking classes to get his master’s degree, so we decided to create this scholarship to help another exceptional, ambitious engineer achieve his or her goal.”

In addition to awarding recipients $2,500 per semester, the scholarship includes an internship with Finley.

Aaron’s sister Melissa Hatt, said: “This really means a lot to our family, and I know Aaron would have loved it. In a scrapbook we found in his room, he wrote in his last entry, ‘Education is key’ next to his graduation picture. The fact that his memory is being kept alive by something like this is amazing.”

The scholarship recipient will be selected by a committee of Finley executive managers and staff. Recipients will exhibit most or all of the following qualities/accomplishments:

• Bridge engineer pursuing a master’s degree
• Excellent grades in college courses
• Better-than-average understanding of what it takes to be a good engineer, both technically and from a business standpoint
• Respected by peers and professors
• Involved in extra-curricular activities
• Ambition to succeed and to be an exceptional bridge engineer

Applicants will be asked to submit a recent transcript, write a brief essay about their goals as a bridge engineer, include a letter of recommendation from a practicing bridge engineer or professor, and complete a qualifying application. This information will be used to select the scholarship finalists.

Students from all accredited engineering programs are eligible and encouraged to apply.

For more information about the Aaron Roth Bridge Engineering Scholarship, please contact Dawn White at 602 368-6065 or dawn.white@finleyengineeringgroup.com.