Charles Wolenter, C'71: Classroom Challenges Paid Off In Professional Career
Charles Wolenter, C’71, has established the Richard B. Guskiewicz Scholarship in honor of the professor who taught him so much.
How well I remember that day in class. Professor Richard Guskiewicz gave us a test in Intermediate Accounting, but for some reason, the secretary who typed the test questions skipped two lines of information—and, of course, no one was able to get the questions correct. Dick was puzzled as to why no one was able to understand the questions until he discovered the missing lines.
He returned our test during the next class and told us about the missing information on the questions. Then he explained that with a series of logical assumptions, we could take the incomplete questions and solve the problems. While we sat there dumbfounded, I was thinking that someday I would like to be that good! I discovered throughout my career that it was common to have to work with incomplete or inaccurate information and that logical assumptions were often the only way to solve a problem.
Dick (and it took many years for me to call him something other than Mr. Guskiewicz) challenged me during my four years at Saint Vincent College. He was a tough teacher who would not let you take the easy path on homework assignments, questions in class or tests. Like others, I didn't realize how valuable those challenges were until many years later as I pursued my professional career.
The impact of Dick Guskiewicz has carried with me throughout my entire life. The education I received, both in and out of the classroom, has served me well. One way for me to say thanks is to recognize the worth of his presence by establishing a scholarship in his name.
Not only did Dick make an impression on my life, but I am proud to relay that two of my daughters, Natalie, C'00, and Melanie, C'06, are also graduates.
Funding the scholarship will take me several years, but by utilizing funds from my IRA, I will reach the $25,000 level within four years. By creatively utilizing this distribution and adjusting my will, Saint Vincent College is guaranteed the creation of this scholarship in the name of a professor who meant so much to me and others during our formative years.
While the initial funding of this scholarship will be a starting point, I would like to invite anyone else whom Dick made an impact on during their time at the College to join me in this tribute by adding to the scholarship fund.
In the spirit of the Benedictine tradition of challenging students to achieve to the best of their ability, I am honored to establish the Richard B. Guskiewicz Scholarship as a lasting tribute to him and his lifetime role of helping others to be successful individuals out of the "raw material" of college students.
—Charles Wolenter, C'71
There are many ways you can honor those who have made an impact on your life with a gift to Saint Vincent College. Contact James D. Bendel, C’60 at james.bendel@stvincent.edu or 724-805-2948 to learn more.