Roby M. Burley Scholarship Fund

 

General

Our Scholarship Fund was established in the late 1930’s and was originally called the Seattle Club Scholarship Fund. Several years ago, we decided to honor Roby Burley during his lifetime for his outstanding contributions to our club and the Alumni Association.

Roby graduated from Michigan with a degree in Literature in 1920 and, while there, wrote the history of the World War I experiences of the 170-member Michigan Naval Militia. He moved to Seattle in 1928 and joined our club. For many years, Roby was the club historian. He wrote the history of the club using past minutes and personally kept our history from 1959 until his death in 1996. Roby was a wealth of information and the force that kept this club going during the good years and the lean. An avid football and basketball fan, he never missed an event held in the area, even when he was well into his nineties. Roby was our club president in 1935 and 36, served as the Eighth District Director and was recognized by the University with the Distinguished Alumni Service Medal, a rare distinction. His knowledge, wisdom, and guidance over the years were invaluable to all associated with our club. For all these things, we honor Roby M. Burley by having the club scholarship fund carry his name.

Since 1930, we have given scholarships to nearly 50 individuals. We have established specific criteria for the recipients, including being a Washington resident and having a grade point of at least 3.0. The scholarship is not available to freshman. The awards total over $95,000, money which is the interest on our capital fund, and most has been given in the last ten years. In 1946, the fund had $10,000, with the first major contribution to the Fund by the club being the $600 profit from the 1958 Glee Club Concert.

Our Scholarship fund generally awards somewhere between $17,000 and $20,000 each year, with that amount being divided between 3 to 5 recipients. The minimum scholarship amount is $3,000.

For Donors

All donations to the Scholarship fund made out to the University of Michigan are eligible for matching funds and are tax-deductible. Some alumni have left memorial donations. The club has complete control over the use of the monies. The University invests it for us and distributes it for us by deducting the amount awarded from the students’ bills. Please give generously to help Washington students experience the University of Michigan.

Seattle members who wish to make contributions to the scholarship fund may now make contributions online — just be sure to “choose the areas my gifts should help” and then select “WA - Seattle UM Club Roby M. Burley Scholarship.”

Alternatively, you can mail us a check, taking the following steps to ensure it is placed in the Roby fund and that it is tax deductible to them.

  1. Make check payable to University of Michigan.
  2. Memo line should say Roby M. Burley Scholarship or Seattle U of M Club. In addition, please print account # 70213 on your check.
  3. Mail to the UM Club of Seattle’s post office box.
  4. Contributions will be promptly submitted by UM Club of Seattle, and a receipt will be sent to those who contribute. (for tax purposes).

Just think — your gift could help a deserving student from the Seattle area complete their Michigan education!

For company matching contributions, the donations should find their way to the Roby fund if the following instructions are followed:

  1. Donor must request matching form from the company.
  2. When filling out the form, indicate the match should go to: University of Michigan, Office of Financial Aid, Roby M. Burley Scholarship.
  3. Once a confirmation of the match has been delivered (i.e., from the company providing the match), the donor could send it to the UM Club of Seattle and then we could verify it was put towards the Roby Scholarship. This is up to the individual contributor.

Send donations to:

UM Club of Seattle, Scholarship Committee
PO Box 9911
Seattle, WA 98109

For Students

  1. The Burley Scholarship Committee may consider only University of Michigan enrolled undergraduate students who are residents of the State of Washington at the time of application for the scholarship. Undergraduate recipients whose residency changes to the State of Michigan may be considered at the discretion of the Committee. Recipients must be enrolled as full time students, as defined by the University of Michigan, or participants in approved University alternative programs.
  2. Applicants must be citizens of the United States.
  3. The scholarship is not available to graduate students.
  4. Club members’ children are eligible to apply for scholarship, but will not receive special consideration.
  5. The primary criteria for awarding scholarships will be academic achievement. Other criteria may include diversity of student experience, community service and financial need. Because of NCAA guidelines, athletic ability or participation in University of Michigan sports will not be considered by the Committee.
  6. The scholarship is awardable after the freshman year. All awards are for one year only. Scholarships may be awarded to one student a maximum of three (3) times and are not renewable. The scholarship will only be available to full time students for the fall and winter semesters.
  7. Application for the Roby M. Burley Scholarship requires a full official transcript of the college years and a letter including information about the applicant and his/her activities as well as why the applicant desires the scholarship.
  8. A Burley Scholar is expected to maintain a minimum 3.0 average at the University of Michigan as a full time student with consideration given to course of study. If the student goes on academic probation all moneys not already awarded will be revoked.
  9. The letter of acceptance from the Club will include the home address of the Seattle Club Scholarship Chairman and the requirements to maintain the scholarship.
  10. Each Burley Scholar will supply the Club Scholarship Chairman with a copy of his/her transcript within 45 days of the end of each semester.
  11. A Burley Scholar will contact the Club Scholarship Chairman or another committee member at the conclusion of the winter term.
  12. A Burley Scholar must notify the Seattle Club Scholarship Chairman immediately upon receipt of any other grants or scholarships.
  13. Invitations to apply are sent out via the students’ umich.edu e-mail addresses around the end of January. The due date will be provided with the invitation, but is usually at the end of February/beginning of March. Applications and transcripts are due at that time. Winners will be notified by the end of April.

The Board would also like to take this opportunity to thank Harriette Dorkin for her many tireless efforts on behalf of the Scholarship Fund Committee.