Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts students will now have an opportunity to earn a fully funded scholarship to Arkansas State University thanks to a Hot Springs resident.
ASU announced the creation of the George and Sara Roberson Scholarship to help ASMSA students attend the university located in Jonesboro. Sara Roberson of Hot Springs established the scholarship in memory of her late husband, Dr. George V. Roberson.
George Roberson, who died in 2013, earned his undergraduate degree from ASU and went on to the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, graduating first in his medical school class. He also served on the ASU Chancellor’s Cabinet, which includes people who donate to the university and may provide counsel to the chancellor and his administration.
Sara Roberson now serves on the Chancellor’s Cabinet. The Robersons’ sons Scott and Matt are both ASU alumni. A grandson represents the family’s third generation at ASU.
Sara Roberson said she decided to establish the scholarship for ASMSA graduates after being introduced to the school after moving to town.
“When I moved to Hot Springs, I was invited to several ASMSA events,” Roberson said. “Meeting students as well as realizing what a wonderful educational experience was being made available to Arkansas high school students was uplifting.
“As a longtime friend of ASU, I wanted to find a way to merge the two interests. This scholarship enables me to do that and honor my husband’s support of ASU.”
ASMSA Director Corey Alderdice expressed the school’s gratitude for the gift that will help create a stronger bond between ASMSA and ASU.
“ASMSA’s community of learning is deeply appreciative for Mrs. Roberson’s gift that creates pathways for our graduates to continue their undergraduate education in Arkansas. For more than twenty-five years, ASMSA has been an investment by the people of Arkansas in the future of our state. We are humbled to know that ASMSA alumni will benefit each year from this scholarship honoring the legacy of Dr. Roberson.”
According to an article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, George Roberson practiced general, thoracic and vascular surgery, including laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery, for about 45 years. He also was known in southeast Arkansas for a weekly medical-information column he wrote for more than 20 years in the Pine Bluff Commercial, the article said.