November 7, 2007 - Founder's Day Celebration Honors 57 Andrew J. Rider Scholars
More than 400 proud family members, faculty and administrators jammed the Bart Luedeke Center Theatre on Saturday, November 3, to honor the 2007 Andrew J. Rider Scholars during the Founder’s Day Celebration. Provost Donald Steven presided as master of ceremonies for the event that served as one of the grand highlights of an enormously successful Parents’ Weekend that brought more than 1,500 guests to the Lawrenceville campus.
“Today’s Andrew J. Rider Scholars are an important, select and versatile group,” Steven said of the top one percent of the academic class. “This is an outstanding achievement worthy of our admiration and congratulations.”
After presenting the Dominick Iorio Faculty Research Award to John Baer, professor of teacher education, Steven then introduced Associate Professor Barry Truchil who presented the faculty address urging his students to continue on their already impressive paths. “Those of you here today have made a point of making the very most of your opportunity to attend college,” said Truchil. “Don’t stop with your college commitment. Keep taking advantage of the opportunities life presents you. I urge you to become active and engaged citizens as you continue in your chosen careers and professional pursuits.”
The 57 Andrew J. Rider Scholars were then presented congratulatory certificates by their respective deans and President Mordechai Rozanski. This was followed by the student address from Scholar Ruth Rodriguez, a senior from the College of Continuing Studies. Rodriguez shared her personal story of the many years, sacrifices and obstacles she overcame to attend Rider in search of the bachelor’s degree she will earn next spring, all the while raising four children who sacrificed for her so that she could achieve the outstanding grades that have made her a Rider Scholar. “I truly want to thank Rider University for the acknowledgment of the nontraditional learner,” she said. “Remember, it isn’t your intelligence alone that will help you succeed, but your determination, hard work and perseverance.”
This year’s Rider Scholars are:
College of Business Administration
Dana M.Hoffman
Man Sung Bae*
Nicole Alexandra Addesso
Matthew P. Nissen**
Alex D’Amico
Erin C. Bethke
Sergiy Sachko
Simphiwe S. Mhlanga*
Melissa J. Cloonan
Ryan Sydorko
Leah Waldron
College of Liberal Arts, Education and Sciences
School of Education
Dawn R. Baines
William Coughlin*
Meghan E. Brett
Kathleen J. Hasson
Patrick Thomas Gaston*
Emily Ann DiPaolo
Jennifer A. Kamm**
Ashley N. Weitz
Michelle A. Mazzulla
Amy Legvari**
School of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Erin E. Ludwig
Joshua Chave*
Stephanie L. Lauer
Mandi Magnuson-Hung
Meighan E. Hogate III*
Joanne Nosuchinsk
Stephanie Mostaccio**
Richard C. Sando*
Jennifer L. Poorvin
Elizabeth M. Ryan*
Krista Wettengel*
Aurora L. Slothus
Baris Yakin*
College of Continuing Studies
Kimberly L. Bohonko
Timothy Burns
Sanjeev Bassi
Denise L. Jerolymack
Patrick J. McWain
Aljermire Dewberry
Courtney Morris
Sherita A. Whetstone
Patricia Cashill Headley
Ruth R. Rodriguez
Sean Wild
Westminster Choir College
Emily Adams**
Celia Barry*
Stephen Buzard
Elizabeth Allen
Emma-Grace Dunbar
Brittany Michelle Godfrey
Lauren A. McDowell*
Shane Magargal*
Christopher McWilliams
Danielle Lynn Meola*
Karol Nowicki
Thomas Sheehan
* Second-year scholar
**Third-year scholar
