SCUP Distinguished Service Award—
Recognizing exceptional contributions to the activities and success of the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP)

Richard A. Rigterink has been named a 2005 recipient of SCUP's Distinguished Service Award. Rigterink is currently a principal at The Campus Studio, an Ann Arbor-based master planning firm which works exclusively with colleges and universities. Prior to founding the firm four years ago, he worked at JJR for 24 years, where he served as senior vice president, and director of the Campus Planning Studio, as well as SmithGroup Education Segment Leader.

Since joining SCUP almost 20 years ago, Rigterink has been actively involved in and a strong supporter of the organization on multiple levels. When working on various campuses, he routinely recommends SCUP membership as being critical to strengthening and expanding in-house knowledge of planning opportunities. He recently completed a two-year assignment serving as chair of the SCUP Culture Task Force. The task force helped define strategies and establish guidelines for strengthening the interface between institutional and corporate members. He served effectively as a member of the SCUP Task Force for Strategic Planning in 1992–1993. He continues to serve as a member of the Planning for Higher Education Editorial Board (a position he has held for more than 10 years) and for which he has contributed articles. He has made numerous presentations at both national and regional SCUP conferences and regularly serves as a convener and informal greeter to new members.

"Dick Rigterink's professional life epitomizes the highest standard for client service," says James L. Murdock, assistant dean at the University of Michigan and SCUP's 2004 Distinguished Service Award recipient. "Whether a team member in a large organization, or the leader of his own firm, Dick assesses the need of an organization by careful listening and collaborative decision-making. His commitment to the diverse membership of SCUP is exemplary of networking in its most positive form. I am delighted to applaud his recognition by SCUP."

He received his master's degree from Harvard's Graduate School of Design and graduated from Michigan State University with dual undergraduate degrees: a BS in Landscape Architecture and BA in History.