Bekha Scott was 13 when she was diagnosed with a rare disease called neurofibromatosis (NF2) which caused tumors to grow on her nerves. She continued schooling without breaks despite having 11 major surgeries including four brain surgeries and seven spinal surgeries. She passed away on April 2, 2016, when she was almost 26. During her life, Bekha was especially interested and committed to serving others. While earning a degree at UIS in social work, for example, she became the President of the UIS Alpha Eta Delta Chapter of the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, presiding over meetings, encouraging leadership development among members through team building and training, overseeing many chapter events and participating in many volunteer activities. In 2012, she was chosen to be the chapter's voting delegate at the 2012 National Conference, and in 2013, she received the Distinguished Service Key. In Peoria, her home, Bekha worked as a peer listener at the Peoria Illinois Community Crisis Center and as a program assistant and earlier as a camp counselor at the Heart of Illinois Special Recreation Association in Peoria. The scholarship created and named in Bekha's honor will be awarded to a student with demonstrated financial need. Special preference will be given to students involved in a community service organization or fraternity through the UIS Office of Volunteer and Civic Engagement.