Richter Awards will honor faculty, staff contributions

by Tom Uribes

Longtime university supporters and Fresno residents Jan and Bud Richter have donated $10,000 to establish three awards that will be given to two faculty and one staff member who have outstanding accomplishments in the School of Education and Human Development.

Education Dean Paul Shaker announced that the Jan and Bud Richter Awards of Excellence will annually honor a school of education faculty and a staff member, as well as a uni-versity professor outside the school.

Shaker said the Richters have had a long-standing philanthropic commitment to the School of Education and Human Development that culminates in this series of unprece-dented awards for faculty and staff.

Richter, who was honored by the university with an honorary doctorate two years ago, is the leading liaison between the school of edu-cation and the community, according to Shaker.

"The establishment of the Bud and Jan Richter Awards is the latest manifestation of their leadership in bringing our business and education communities together," Shaker said. "The Richters believe that selfless and excellent performance by professors and staff in the service of future teachers deserves lasting public recognition."

The education faculty honor will be a $5,000 award for a professor who has excelled in his/her field of expertise and has served to promote the school of education's mission to prepare teachers.

The universitywide faculty honor will be a $3,000 award for a Fresno State professor working with teacher credential students. Shaker said that, in also honoring faculty outside the school of education, the new awards affirm that it takes an entire university to create an outstanding teacher.

A $2,000 staff award will honor a school of education staff member who has demonstrated a commitment to responsibilities in the school. "This award is for staff members who not only provide excellent support for faculty members, but who advocate for students and also provide excellence in student and community relations," said Dr. Chris Lucey, chair of the school's development committee that helped set up the awards.

An advisory committee comprised of repre-sentatives of the school of education's academic departments will select the winners every year. The first recipients will be announced in mid-May.

For more information, contact Lucey at (559) 278-0407.