Richter Scholarship Winner

Richter Scholarship Winner urges other SCM students to apply!

Joseph Thornton-Gamez, Arizona State University Supply Chain Management major, and winner of the 2005 R. Gene Richter and Nancy D. Richter Foundation Scholarship of $5,000 urges his fellow SCM majors to apply for this year’s scholarship.  “It has been the most amazing scholarship opportunity I could have wished for!” says Thornton.  “I have not only had received significant funding toward my last year in school, but also had a Procurement internship at Intel this summer as part of the scholarship.  And I have had the opportunity to meet high-ranking supply chain executives from the largest companies in the world!”  For Thornton, his summer experience has extended into a part-time internship at Intel this fall.  He has been accepted into a program to study aboard next semester in Belgium, and is also looking forward to the opportunity to work for Intel in Europe.  Each student who is awarded the Richter scholarship is personally mentored by a procurement executive in a Fortune 500 company. According to Thornton,  “The opportunities to meet people and expand my understanding of procurement as a profession have just been remarkable!”  His mentor is based in London, and Joe was offered a standing invitation to come and visit his mentor.  He plans to do just that during his experience next semester.

The R. Gene and Nancy D. Richter Foundation will provide a scholarship of up to $5,000 to individuals seeking education in the area of Supply Chain Management-Procurement for the 2006-2007 academic year.  Now in its third year, the R. Gene Richter Scholarship Program is the first of its kind.  The program is designed to foster future leaders among high-potential undergraduate students enrolled in accredited procurement or supply management programs at 42 participating schools.  An eligible student will be entering their senior year and be enrolled full time in an accredited supply chain management or procurement program with the intention of specializing in the procurement profession.  Scholarship recipients will be chosen based on outstanding academic achievement, high ethical standards, and potential to become a future leader in the procurement field.  The 2006 scholarship recipients will be invited to attend the 91st Annual International Supply Management Conference and Educational Exhibit late this spring in Minneapolis, where they will be honored at a dinner along with industry winners of the R Gene Richter Awards for Leadership and Innovation in Supply Management.  

The R. Gene Richter Scholarship program was established to develop high-potential undergraduate students into tomorrow's procurement leaders.  Its goal is to fast-track participants into the profession through a high quality support base and access to a strong network.  The scholarship is named in memory of R. Gene Richter who was a galvanizing force in the field of procurement.  Gene led the supply organizations at The Black & Decker Company, Hewlett Packard and International Business Machines; all three of these organizations won Purchasing magazine’s Medal of Professional Excellence.  His thoughts, ideas, and practices transformed modern thinking in the emerging procurement field.  This scholarship acts as a way of continuing his efforts to promote excellence within the profession.  

In the first year of the scholarship, three ASU supply chain majors were honored.  Ms. Jami Coop, now of Hewlett-Packard, and Ms. Leslie Waggoner of Intel Corporation, both May, 2005 SCM graduates, have frequently expressed what a significant event the winning of this scholarship was to them.  They have remained in close contact with the Richter Foundation officials, and have formed an extremely valuable network of professional connections as a result of this award. Both of them strongly recommend that May 2007 graduates apply.

The scholarship application and instructions are available at www.richterfoundation.org.  The application deadline is February 15, 2006.  The application process is being handled in partnership with the Institute for Supply Management.  Please direct any application questions to Janis Kellerman at 800.888.6276 ext. 3023 or at jkellerman@ism.ws . Applicants may download instructions and application materials at www.richterfoundation.org

If you have any questions regarding the Richter Foundation, please direct them to Sandy Vanover at www.richterfoundation.org

Applicants may download instructions and application materials at www.richterfoundation.org

For a profile on R. Gene Richter, his life and outstanding accomplishments in Procurement, please see    http://wpcarey.asu.edu/scm/richterprofile