AnonymousKenneth Richardson, author and former President of Hughes Aircraft Company, and Charlotte Richardson have contributed $50,000 to Antioch University Santa Barbara to create the newly established Richardson Student Support Fund. This fund aims to provide better access and opportunities to students at the university to further innovation, creativity, and knowledge for the business students at the campus.
“All of us in this nation should realize that our future success in lifestyle and economic vigor is critically dependent on advanced education,” said Richardson. “Therefore, significant encouragement and support of educational professionals and organizations are essential. We are in a global competitive race and, unfortunately, are falling behind other countries.”
The fund will provide textbooks and other instructional materials directly to students to improve their ability to succeed in their courses. Another portion of the fund will establish the Management, Leadership, Innovation, and Connection (MILCO) Seminar Series. These seminars will host community leaders, speakers, and guests to participate in networking events and demonstrations that promote innovative thinking for the students of Antioch and the greater community. Beyond that, the fund will create opportunities for students to attend meaningful field trips and community events that better increase their exposure to hands-on, in-field experiences.
“We are very grateful to Ken and Charlotte Richardson for their generous support of our students,” said Provost Dr. Barbara Lipinski. “This gift provides a strong foundation for our students’ continued development as innovative business leaders of the future – leaders with a commitment to the social good.”
“It is personally most rewarding to be able to spur on our local efforts,” added Richardson. “Antioch’s dynamic leadership and success in business administration programs provide an ideal and worthy investment in helping nurture our collective future. Assisting in any way provides some satisfaction by repaying some of the many benefits we have personally gained from our society.”
In honor of this generous act, the campus will be holding a private ceremony to acknowledge the donors. In addition, their names will be added to the donor wall located at the Santa Barbara campus.
“The fund is particularly precious for us because of the timing and its meaning,” said Anna Kwong, Chair of AUSB’s Undergraduate Studies Department and MBA. “The pandemic has thrown us off quite a bit in higher education; students struggle with finances and often feel a sense of loss and helplessness facing the transitioning challenge to virtual learning. This fund is a much-needed boost to help the students financially and pump up their spirits amid this exceedingly difficult time. Despite the dire situation, kindness and generosity still exist in the community.”
Antioch University Santa Barbara provides a rigorous, progressive education to prepare students for the complexities of today’s diverse societies. With more than 4,500 distinguished alumni, AUSB has been honored to serve the diverse communities of Santa Barbara and the central coast of California since 1977. The core values of social justice, service to the community, and lifelong learning lie at the heart of the undergraduate degree completion programs and graduate programs in the fields of education, business, and writing. A bold and enduring source of innovation in higher education, AUSB is a private, nonprofit 501(c)3 institution and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. antioch.edu/santa-barbara
