Timothy '67 and Linda '67 Richter
Why did you choose to create a scholarship at SUNY Geneseo?
We have always had a firm belief that education is essential. Education is a necessity for people to become all that they are capable of being. As graduates of Geneseo we continued to stress the importance of education in the lives of our children as well as our students. One way to help educate was by creating the Timothy ’67 and Linda ’67 Richter Endowed Scholarship to assist those interested in education to develop their skills, talents and abilities.
Even though we graduated from Geneseo more than fifty years ago, it still holds a warm place in our hearts. The place on the hill overlooking the valley draws us back with such intensity. It brings us back to strong memories with friends, friends we still cherish today. Geneseo provided us a strong educational experience. It got us ready for the upcoming challenges that we would encounter once we left Geneseo.
So, we created this scholarship so others could also have the opportunity to have new experiences- Geneseo experiences- that will also be remembered for a lifetime.
What would you want the recipients of this scholarship to know about the persons for whom it is named?
Education is our life. We were both education majors who both became teachers in Genesee County. Linda taught special education children at all levels for B.O.C.E.S. Tim taught children in the Oakfield-Alabama Elementary School. In 2004, we formed a family foundation and became the first affiliate in New York State of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. We chose the children of the Oakfield-Alabama School District to be our target audience. We have continued to pursue the advancement of education by expanding Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library into five other school districts in Genesee County.
Tell us about your Geneseo memory, favorite tradition, or what Geneseo has meant for you.
Our most treasured memory of Geneseo is the fact that we met as freshmen and were married while student teaching in our senior year. Some of our best memories involve our friends with whom we are still in contact. We not only studied together but worked together in the dining hall, enjoyed dancing at the M&B, enjoyed taking LONG walks through the village and becoming life-long friends.
What do you hope your recipients gain through this scholarship?
We hope our scholarship lightens the debt most students incur in obtaining an education. We hope also that it encourages them to become sponsors, and or, contributors for other students entering Geneseo. Lastly, we hope that our scholarship allowed them to come to Geneseo and gave them a chance to develop their own abilities and to create their own wonderful memories.