Bluffton presents philanthropy award to Richard, Carolyn Cripe
Richard and Carolyn Cripe, Indiana residents with a long history of giving and service to Bluffton University, are the 2010 recipients of Bluffton's Ray Ramseyer Philanthropy Award.

The honor was announced Oct. 9 at the annual President's Society Dinner in Founders Hall.

Richard Cripe, who earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Bluffton in 1956, is president of New Paris, Ind.-based Turtle Top Inc., which manufactures small and midsize buses and specialty vehicles on truck chassis.

From 1986 until April 2010, he was a member of the Bluffton Board of Trustees. "Throughout that time, Carolyn has been a partner with Dick in supporting Bluffton's mission and programs," said Dr. Hans Houshower, the university's vice president for advancement. The Syracuse, Ind., residents have given more than $500,000 to Bluffton, including the lead gift to the Students First initiative, a campaign chaired by the Cripes that funded the expansion of Marbeck Center in 2002-04.

"During his many years of board service, Richard was always thinking of creative ways to increase philanthropic support for Bluffton, and he and Carolyn continue to be advocates to others to support Bluffton and to prospective students to consider Bluffton," Houshower said.

Noting that he made ongoing friends, including faculty, while a student, Richard Cripe said "I feel the need to give back because my education at Bluffton helped me in my family business, and I feel the Lord has blessed that business."

Cripe grew up in Goshen, Ind., and returned there after graduating from Bluffton to join the business started by his uncle, Independent Protection Co. (IPC) Inc., which makes, installs and services lightning protection equipment. Turtle Top, founded in the early 1960s, is a division of IPC, which has about 225 employees. The Cripes' grandson recently joined the business, marking the fifth generation of the family to do so.

The Bluffton trustees established the Ramseyer Award in 2002 to publicly recognize individuals and organizations that contribute energy, ideas, time and dollars to make the university's mission reality. The award was named in honor of Ramseyer, a 1943 graduate, for his lifelong commitment to fostering a spirit of philanthropy through personal and professional associations.