• Dr. Keith Dewey, director of corporate and foundation relations, has been named a 2005 Leadership New Jersey Fellow. He was one of 55 selected state-wide for the prestigious program out of an applicant pool of between 125 and 140 strong. Individuals selected for Leadership New Jersey (LNJ), the signature program of The Partnership for New Jersey, are professionals from a wide range of fields who are engaged in their community as civic leaders. Dewey will take part in a series of seminars in 2005 in all regions of New Jersey on topics ranging from community health to economic issues and taxation policy to environmental health.
• Dr. Ronald A. Hemmel, A.A.G. O., associate professor of music theory and composition, and artistic director of the Music Computing Center at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, received the Excellence in Composition award for "Quintet for Brass," in a competition sponsored by the Brass Chamber Music Forum at Appalachian State University. The forum, which took place October 21-23, is known as the most comprehensive, informational brass symposium ever held.
• Dr. J.A. Kawarsky, professor of music theory and composition and chair of the WCC musical theater program, was awarded the Outstanding Alumnus Award from his undergraduate institution, Iowa State University in Ames, IA in October. The award will be celebrated with the premiere of a new composition by Dr. Kawarsky in October 2005 at ISU. The new work, part of Dr. Kawarsky's sabbatical projects, is for alto saxophone and orchestral winds. " Diane Romulus, academic coordinator for the College of Business Administration, received a "You've Made a Difference!," certificate from Ira Mayo, associate dean of freshman, on November 4 for her service and dedication to the freshman class at Rider.

• Diane Romulus, academic coordinator for the College of Business Administration, received a "You've Made a Difference!," certificate from Ira Mayo, associate dean of freshman, on November 4 for her service and dedication to the freshman class at Rider.

Student Achievers

• Jaime Parker, '05, a fine arts and political science major, won a $1,000 grant for the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK), for her essay submission to a national contest sponsored by Dannon Yogurt. Her essay also impressed TASK staff and board members. It ran in the December issue of TASK's newsletter.
• Kristin Smith, a senior sociology major is an intern at Grandview Elementary and M.R. Reiter Elementary School in Morrisville, PA; Racheal Jones, a junior sociology major, an intern at Womanspace, Inc., a leading nonprofit agency in Mercer County, New Jersey that provides comprehensive services to individuals and families impacted by domestic and sexual violence; and Dana Schimpf, a senior sociology major with a minor in law and justice, is an intern with the Burlington Police Department.
• Students in Dr. John Sheats' class, CHE 211 (Organic Chemistry), performed a variety community services this fall semester. Nineteen of the 21 class members participated in such activities as the University blood drive, Race for the Cure, CROP WALK and other walks. They also contributed to the Giving Trees Project, Up 'Til Dawn letter writing campaign, the food collection drive and volunteered at an animal shelter. Dr. Sheats, professor of chemistry, also participated in some of the events.