Tributes paid to ‘outstanding’ student killed in US crash

By FRANK URQUHART
Published on 27/07/2012 10:39

TRIBUTES have been paid to a Dundee University postgraduate student who was killed in a fireball crash in the United States.

Nikhil Rodrigues, 27, who had recently become an American citizen, died in late-night accident in Somerville in Maine last month.

He was identified by DNA tests.

Mr Rodriguez, who was born in India, had joined the masters programme in energy finance at Dundee University in January where he was said to have been an “outstanding” student at the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy.

Gillian Pallis, the centre’s associate dean, said: “Nik was an outstanding young man who made a deep impression on all who met him. When he joined our induction programme he was so enthused by the experience of being in a room with 100 other postgraduates from around the world to discuss energy issues facing global communities.”

She added: “His death is a devastating loss for his family and his many friends from Dundee. The nature of the centre is that it attracts people from all round the world, and the shocking news of his death will now be spreading in a ripple effect to them back in their home countries.”

Mr Rodrigues’ family had moved to Somerville seven years ago and his parents Sunil and Maryrose Rodrigues have been invited to travel to Dundee University later this year to receive their son’s postgraduate degree.