A special highlight of Rider’s Family Day on Saturday, November 5 is Founders’ Day, a tradition which honors Rider’ top students as Andrew J. Rider Scholars. The program begins at 11 a.m. in the Bart Luedeke Center Theater. The Scholars have been selected based on their grade point averages.

The award, which is named for the founder and first president of the institution, honors the top one percent of sophomores, juniors and seniors in each of Rider's five academic colleges and schools -- the College of Business Administration, the School of Education, the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Continuing Studies, and Westminster Choir College.

During the program, Dr. Jack Sullivan, professor of English and director of the American Studies Program, will receive the Dominick A. Iorio Award for Faculty Research. Dr. Kelly Noonan, associate professor of economics, will present the faculty address and Jennifer Augello ’06, a senior psychology major, the student address.  President Mordechai Rozanski will award certificates to 53 students during the ceremony.

"This year we will honor 53 outstanding students and the Rider and high school faculty guests who profoundly influenced them,” said Dr. Phyllis Frakt, vice president for academic affairs and provost.  “It is a pleasure to recognize examples of academic excellence among Rider students and the inspiration of the teaching profession."