Long before the University of California, Riverside (UCR) had a college of engineering, Sam Konyn ’79 was studying mathematics and exploring the emerging field of computer science. Nearly five decades later, he is helping future engineering students find their own paths at UCR.
A San Bernardino native, Sam grew up just a few miles from UCR and met his future wife, Cathleen “Cathy” Konyn ’80, while the two were students at Aquinas High School. Their connection would eventually extend to UC Riverside, where Sam earned his degree in mathematics, and Cathy received her degree in biology.
At the time, UCR’s College of Engineering had yet to be established. Sam was among a small group of students whose mathematics coursework leaned heavily into the emerging field of computer science. He studied under faculty members who were helping build the foundation for what would eventually become computer science and engineering at UCR. That experience helped prepare him for a successful career in software development.
Cathleen’s interest in science continued well beyond her time at UCR. She built a career as a medical technologist at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, specializing in bacteriology and mycology. She was also an avid gardener and served as chair of the UC Master Gardener Program of Riverside County. The two were married for 37 years before Cathy’s passing in 2016.
In the years following Cathy’s passing, Sam reconnected with UC Riverside. As he became more involved with his alma mater, he also began giving. One of Sam’s first gifts supported a scholarship honoring his mentor, Professor Emeritus Thomas Payne. It gave Sam a way to honor someone who had shaped his own UCR experience while supporting students who came after him.
As his involvement with UCR grew, Sam began thinking about how he could create a lasting impact while honoring Cathy’s memory.
He established the Cathleen and Sam Konyn Endowed Student Project Fund, honoring Cathy while providing engineering students with hands-on learning opportunities. The fund supports student organizations and project teams that bring together students from different engineering disciplines. It has also supported Bear Tank, a pitch competition where student teams present their projects and compete for funding.
But Sam’s investment in UCR has increasingly extended beyond philanthropy.
Over the years, he has become an active voice in the life and future of the university. Today, he serves on the Dean’s Council of Advisors and as a UC Riverside Foundation trustee, contributing his time and perspective to both the college and university. Sam’s connection to UCR began as a local student and has continued throughout his life, growing through his involvement as an alumnus, donor, and advisor.
This summer, Sam deepened that commitment through a $1 million estate gift to strengthen the Cathleen and Sam Konyn Endowed Student Project Fund. The planned gift will expand the fund’s ability to support hands-on student projects for future generations of students.
For Sam, the motivation behind the endowment is straightforward. “Funding an endowment along with ensuring its future with an estate gift is an excellent vehicle to establish a legacy. Student success is a major passion of mine. An endowment allows me to directly fund activities that make success possible.”
Nearly five decades after Sam arrived at UCR, the university has changed. The early computer science courses he once took as a mathematics student helped lay the groundwork for what is now a nationally ranked computer science program within the Marlan & Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering. Its evolution reflects the remarkable growth Sam has witnessed at his alma mater.
For many Highlanders, UCR remains part of their lives long after they leave campus. For Sam, that connection has led him back to UCR in many ways and, through the endowment honoring his late wife, will continue to support students well into the future.