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Roberto, Anthony A. and Josephine T. Roberto, and Carmen V. Roberto, Esq. Fund

The Anthony A. and Josephine T. Roberto and Carmen V. Roberto, Esq. Fund was created in 2018 by combining two existing scholarships -- The Anthony A. and Josephine T. Roberto Scholarship and The Carmen V. Roberto, Esq. Scholarship.  Both scholarships were established by Carmen Roberto, Esq., University of Akron School of Law Class of 1973, out of a desire to honor his parents, Anthony and Josephine, and to encourage excellence in trial advocacy, as well as to give back to his alma mater.

Anthony and Josephine Roberto firmly believe that hard work and education provide the foundation for success. Together they encouraged their three sons to get a good education, as “the way to get ahead in life.”  Leading by example, Anthony Roberto was the first person in the Roberto family to earn a college degree.  Carmen Roberto, following in the footsteps of his father, Anthony, and brother, William A., was the third college graduate in the Roberto family, and the second to receive a Juris Doctor degree from The University of Akron School of Law.  In this regard, Carmen emulated his brother William A. Roberto, a 1970 graduate of the School of Law. 

Anthony and Josephine Roberto also instilled in their children the philosophy, “If you ever get anywhere, don’t forget where you started from or those who helped you on the way.” Carmen Roberto’s gifts of time, talent and treasure to his law school and his community are real life examples of this philosophy in action.

Carmen V. Roberto is a partner in the Akron law firm of Vasko, Roberto & Evans, LPA and a 2002 recipient of The University of Akron School of Law’s Law Alumni Association’s Outstanding Alumni Award.  After law school and military service, Roberto worked for the law firm of Miller & Morris and then as a sole practitioner from 1976 until 1982.  He served the City of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio as an Assistant Prosecutor, Assistant Law Director and Law Director.  Roberto has lectured nationally on municipal law topics, written articles for national journals and written a trial handbook for municipal prosecutors.  His community involvement includes serving as a past president of the Akron Bar Association, counsel for the All American Soap Box Derby, Boosters Club Chair of the Attorneys United Way Campaign, and committee membership on the Lake Township Zoning Board and the City of Green Planning Commission.

The purpose of The Anthony A. and Josephine T. Roberto, and Carmen V. Roberto, Esq. Fund is to reward an outstanding student advocate who is a member of one of The University of Akron School of Law’s Mock Trial Teams and/or to provide an academic scholarship. The selection of The Anthony A. and Josephine T., and Carmen Roberto, Esq. Outstanding Student Advocate will be made by the dean of The University of Akron School of Law upon the recommendation of the director of the Trial Team or Trial Advocacy Professor(s) and the School of Law Scholarship Committee.

Awarding The Anthony A. and Josephine T., and Carmen V. Roberto, Esq. Outstanding Student Advocate award, preference will be given to an out-of-state student who is a top student on the Mock Trial Team with a law school grade point average of 3.2 or higher.  If a candidate is not available or if excess funds are available past this stated purpose then, The Anthony A. and Josephine T. Roberto, and Carmen V. Roberto, Esq. Fund may also be awarded to one or more students who are not on the Mock Trial Team but who are from out-of-state and are enrolled in Trial Advocacy or an equivalent skills training class and have a law school grade point average of 3.2 or higher.