The American Association of Railroad Superintendents said Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013 it has named the recipients of the 2013 Frank J. Richter Scholarship. AARS awarded three students the Frank J. Richter Scholarship this year.
Scott Schmidt is the recipient of the $1,000 scholarship award. Schmidt is a civil engineering student at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, focusing on railway engineering with a minor in business. He has worked as an intern for Loram Maintenance of Way, BNSF Railway, and Hanson Professional Services. He is president of the AREMA Student Chapter and works as a RailTEC undergraduate assistant.
Caleb Nyquist, the second recipient, is a supply chain management student at Michigan State University. He is president of the General Management Association at MSU, and spent the summer of 2013 as an intern with The Boeing Co. in logistics. Nyquist was awarded with a $500 scholarship.
Blake Malburg, the third recipient, also received a $500 award. He is a supply chain management student at Michigan State University, with a focus on integrated supply chain management. Blake is president of the MSU Supply Chain Management Association and has worked as an intern at Abbott Laboratories and AbbVie.
"AARS congratulates all of the scholarship recipients and wishes them the best in the pursuit of their academic and professional endeavors," said AARS President Mark Hinsdale.
Undergraduate and graduate students who have completed at least one semester of undergraduate work can apply for the next Frank J. Richter Scholarship beginning in March 1, 2014. Applications, reference letters, and transcripts will be accepted through July 1, 2014.
The AARS scholarship program is named in honor of the late Frank J. Richter, former publisher of Modern Railroads (which Simmons-Boardman acquired in 1991 and Progressive Railroading magazines. Richter died July 25, 2013, at age 97.
A member of AARS for more than 50 years, Richter served on the organization's Board of Directors, and gave an endowment to AARS to enable the establishment of the Frank J. Richter Annual Scholarship. Since its inception in 2001, the scholarship has assisted undergraduate and graduate students from universities such as Michigan State University, the University of Illinois, Harvard University, and others with funding their education.