LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ -- Sandeep N. Chellani of Metuchen, NJ, and Patricka D. Smith of New Carrollton, MD have received the prestigious President's Award, given annually to a pair of graduating Rider seniors who best personify the University through outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement.

The award presentation was the highlight of the University's recent Awards Banquet, an annual ceremony honoring approximately 100 of Rider's top students.

Chellani has had a distinguished academic career. A finance and computer information systems double-major, Chellani owned a 3.7 grade point average and was included on the University dean's list six times. This year, he was the recipient of the Johnson and Johnson Minority Scholarship, the Pearl S. Buck Foundation Scholarship, and the Rider Memorial Scholarship -- all of which were presented at the banquet. In addition, he is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society.

Beyond the classroom, Chellani is a member of the professional business fraternity Phi Chi Theta, and served as Rider's chapter president for the past two years. A founding member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, a social fraternity whose code is leadership, service to community, scholarship, athleticism, and gentlemanly behavior, Chellani has been involved in a wide range of University and community activities.

His efforts to contribute to the community include participation in local food and clothing drives and park clean-ups. He has had a variety of work experiences on and off campus as a tutor, business manager of the Rider News student newspaper, and as a summer bank teller.

Chellani is a 1994 graduate of Metuchen High School.

Smith has had distinguished academic and athletic careers at Rider. A marketing major, she owned a 3.61 grade point average, earning her a dean's list citation and memberships in the philosophy honor society Phi Sigma Tau and the national leadership honor society Omicron Delta Kappa.

As a tri-captain of the Broncs' women's basketball team, Smith was named second team all-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and listed on New Jersey's all-NCAA Division I team. In addition, she was the most valuable player of the 1997 Columbia Invitational Tournament.

Just as impressive was Smith's ability to balance academics and athletics. A three-time GTE Academic All-American nominee from 1996-98, she was the recipient of a Rider University athletic academic achievement award each semester on campus and was selected by the national publication Black Issues in Higher Education as an Arthur Ashe Jr. scholar for women's basketball. In addition, Smith and her teammates on Rider's women's basketball team were ranked No. 1 in the nation in team grade point average in 1995-96 and No. 2 in 1996-97.

Beyond the classroom and the gymnasium, Smith has made significant contributions to the quality of life in the Rider community. She has served as a student ambassador, tour guide, and Rider athletics representative at campus open houses. This year she also served as vice president of the marketing club.

Smith is a 1994 graduate of Columbia High School.

Rider University is an independent, coeducational, nonsectarian institution with a 353-acre main campus in Lawrenceville, New Jersey and a 23-acre campus in Princeton, New Jersey. The University offers 58 undergraduate programs and 17 graduate programs in the Colleges of Business Administration; Liberal Arts, Education, and Sciences; Continuing Studies; and Westminster Choir College. Ninety-three percent of the faculty hold doctoral or other appropriate advanced degrees. U.S. News and World Report has again ranked Rider in the top tier of northern universities based on the quality of its programs.