Richard Springer ’78 was born to missionary parents and raised in Japan. As a student at Wheaton, Richard dutifully sat down once a week to type a one-and-a-half page, single-spaced letter to his parents, who served as church planters with TEAM. 

Richard’s brothers Paul ’73 and David ’74 preceded him at the College, and his sister Lois Springer Dresselhaus ’80 overlapped with him for two years.

With a perfect score on the math portion of the SAT, Richard applied his keen aptitude for numbers to a degree in mathematics. Not long after graduation, he got a summer job working for the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) in Pasadena, California, which he soon parlayed into full-time work.

Today Richard continues to work for JPL, serving as mission manager for the Mars Exploration Rover, helping to make scientists’ experimental vision tactical reality.

As Loyal Wheaties, Richard and his wife Jeannie have been faithfully supporting the Wheaton Fund since 1984.

“As missionary kids, my brothers and sister and I didn’t have a lot of financial help,” says Richard. “It was a privilege to attend Wheaton College and not come out with huge debt. We believe in what Wheaton stands for and are committed to helping keep a Wheaton education both excellent and affordable for today’s students.”