Five years after Lyn Hill graduated from Queens College with a Bachelor’s in Communication Arts and Sciences, she received an MA. She also taught at the College, where she met her husband, Dr. Forbes I. Hill. A beloved professor in the Media Studies Department, Forbes taught at Queens College for over 40 years. He even returned to teaching (as a part-time adjunct professor) after his retirement in 2003. “His greatest love was teaching,” Lyn observes. In June, 2008, in honor of Forbes’ 80th birthday and illustrious academic career, his wife and their children Harry, Stephanie, and Tim decided to establish an endowed scholarship fund in his name. “We wanted to use the occasion to do something really significant,” explains Lyn. The original goal was to raise $10,000 for the project. But support from friends, colleagues, former students, and extended family was considerable, raising the gift to $80,000 in June 2008 and over $100,000 today. The endowment provides tuition awards to juniors and seniors based on merit and need.

Why I Give

Lyn encourages her fellow alumni to establish scholarship funds that make a difference in the lives of dedicated, hard-working students with financial needs. “It is our family’s hope that the family and friends of other QC faculty members and alumni will replicate this model in honor of a loved one,” Lyn notes. “Many people will find that if they ask friends and family members to honor or memorialize a loved one with a gift to the College, they can be responsible for raising a surprising amount of money.” Forbes Hill passed away in November 2008, but his legacy lives on through his scholarship, and the students who will benefit from it for generations to come.

At the 1973 Queens College Commencement, Richard Goldstein represented the senior class and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Economics. “QC gave me an unbelievable, totally affordable world-class education for which I will always be indebted,” says Richard, who went on to graduate from Harvard Law School. “Without QC I would never have been able to graduate from a four-year college and then professional school.” Today, Richard is the Chairman and CEO of AEP Capital LLC, a private equity firm which he co-founded.

Richard recalls his college years fondly. “Queens College embodies opportunity, excellence and dreams, providing a setting for its students (and faculty) to make their dreams come true,” he comments. “I had great teachers and mentors—Professors Ron Filante and Isaac Alteras come to mind. They were fantastic teachers and role models.”

Richard has been one of Queens College’s most supportive and active alumni. He was honored at the Queens College Gala in 2002, and has given generously to the event, QC’s biggest annual fundraiser, ever since. “Supporting QC is a natural,” he says without hesitation. “It is a classic case of giving back.” After serving on the Queens College Foundation Board of Trustees from 1991-2010, and in recognition of his many years of service, Richard remains an honorary member and Chairman Emeritus.

Why I Give

“When I was Chair of the QC Foundation, I remember vividly awarding a modest scholarship to a graduate student who thanked me profusely and said with this stipend she would attend graduate school full-time and would no longer have to work as a bagger at Waldbaums. I still tear up when I think of this conversation.” 

Looking back, Stephen Orphanos recalls his education at QC fondly and in great detail. “I remember having to take all the required courses like Contemporary Civilization and thinking how I would never use this information,” he says. “Yet, there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t read something that is connected to a topic I learned about back then.” Orphanos completed a degree in Mathematics and went on to teach at Jamaica High School for 30 years until his retirement. “It was a wonderful school. I was recently in touch with some of my students from the 60s, and I was touched by their kind words for me as a teacher.”

Why I Give

In 2011, Mr. Orphanos started a scholarship which offers students tuition assistance. 14 students have been awarded this scholarship to date. “I have such a feeling of gratitude for this school,” he says. “To think that I received this amazing education for no cost – I think there was a $10 fee and then I had to buy books. I wanted to show my appreciation for that superb education, and helping students who need a hand seemed a good way to do so.“