The purpose of the program is to identify the future leaders of supply chain management and fast-track those students into the profession through a program of tuition assistance, executive mentoring, junior mentoring and networking through presentation at the ISM International Annual Conference and participation in the ISM Power Conference a year after college graduation.

The Scholarship Program was started in 2004, and, to date, 31 students have received the award. Founders of The R. Gene Richter Scholarship Program include: R. David Nelson, Theresa Metty, Jimmy Anklesaria, Bob Calderoni, Bob Monczka, Dennie Norman and Nancy Richter.

In 2005, the Richter Foundation partnered with the Institute for Supply Management™ to expand the program into the largest national scholarship program in the field of supply management.

Winners of the R. Gene Richter Scholarship are awarded tuition assistance of $5,000 (December graduates will be awarded $2,500). In addition, Richter Scholars are enrolled in a mentoring program where they are paired with an established executive in the field. Current-year recipients attended the Annual International Supply Management Conference sponsored by the Institute for Supply Management™ (ISM) in St. Louis on May 4-7, 2008. They were the guests of honor at a special Awards Presentation Dinner on Monday, May 5 and were escorted to this banquet by their mentors. One year after graduation and completion of real-world experience in the field of supply chain management, Richter Scholars are invited to participate in an exclusive, invitation-only Power Conference for the executive leadership of the profession held concurrently during the Annual Conference by the Institute for Supply Management™.

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