By Stephen A. Jones
“It’s important for students to focus on learning during university, so we hope our scholarship enables them to enjoy their experience more, without the worry of how they’ll pay for it,” says Shawn Rosenzweig of Richter LLP.
He’s describing the Richter Accounting Scholarship, an annual award that is making a difference for undergraduate students in the University of Waterloo School of Accounting and Finance (SAF).
Scholarships and awards can have a significant impact on a young person’s education, as many SAF alumni know from their own experience―and as others discover when setting up awards to benefit a new generation. To say such awards are always welcome is an understatement, especially today, when many students and families are struggling to cope with the costs of professional education.
Not only do students benefit. The awards can be a boon to donors as well—the Richter scholarship, for instance, helps boost the accounting and business advisory firm’s visibility within the student community—and to the industry as a whole.
“The more young professionals who enter the field of finance and accounting, the more fresh ideas and innovative thinking will arise,” says the Richter partner. “This will push the field in new directions, and that’s always exciting!”
Scholarship Mirrors Values
The Richter scholarship faithfully mirrors the firm’s core values. “With offices in Toronto and Montreal, we believe in giving back to the community,” Rosenzweig says, “and the scholarship is one way to create an impact. We also maintain a high standard of excellence, and we want to help students to achieve excellence too.”
Richter Scholarship recipients must demonstrate leadership and an entrepreneurial focus. They need to show they can take initiative and have the desire to lead, through their involvement in start-ups or new business ventures, volunteering, or playing a significant role in a club, organization or cultural group.
Counting SAF grads among its present employees, Richter has supported the School for many years. The present scholarship is an offshoot of the SBLR LLP awards, originally named for the firm that merged with Richter. During the merger, both parties vowed to continue the scholarship commitment.
“Waterloo has extremely well-prepared and qualified graduates, and that this is why we have supported the university,” Rosenzweig says. “Waterloo gives students an amazing experience and education, and our services are a great continuation of this, so it’s a natural fit all around. We’ve enjoyed supporting SAF students, and we hope the relationship keeps growing.”
Richter executives encourage other firms to step up in like fashion. “It’s important that all service providers invest in the next generation,” says the Richter partner. “We need new and interested people in our field to help us all thrive—and work with us in providing excellent client service.”
Richter Builds Community
Richter is in the top rank of Bottom Line magazine’s recent list of the top 30 independent accounting and business advisory firms. “We’re big enough to get substantial mandates,” Rosenzweig suggests, “but small enough that team members aren’t working only in one single service line.”
The firm prides itself on its internal continuing education program featuring mentorship, soft skills and industry-related training, and firsthand partner experience. Team members grow and develop by participating in diverse engagements, helping a broad range of clients, and working in ways that promote collaboration and constant learning.
Outside the company walls, Richter actively builds community. The Richter Charitable Foundation contributes more than a half-million dollars annually to worthy causes and organizations. The firm’s Community Day sees team members devote time and energy to local causes, and its Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship program advances initiatives on global issues such as poverty and hunger.
Help Meet the Need
Sheilaah Guthrie, SAF’s Associate Director, Advancement, praises Richter LLP for its generous support, and is grateful for all the industry- and alumni-sponsored awards and scholarships now available. But she stresses that more must be done.
“As our student population increases, so does the need for assistance,” she explains. “We’re asking SAF alumni and corporate partners to step up and help meet this growing need.”
A greater array of awards and scholarships means students can focus totally on their studies. This will help them get the most out of their educational experience at Waterloo—and retain a competitive advantage in the marketplace and in their careers.
Guthrie hopes to raise $500,000 for new awards and scholarships over the next five years. The goal for 2015-16 is $100,000.
Please help us achieve this goal—and make a real impact on SAF students now and going forward. Contact Sheilaah Guthrie (sheilaah.guthrie@uwaterloo.ca) or Alexandra Lippert, SAF’s Senior Alumni and Development Officer (allipper@uwaterloo.ca).