• Dr. Mildred Rice Jordan, professor of teacher education, was named "Woman of the Year” at the annual Women's History Month celebration for the residents and staff of the Juvenile Female Secure Care and Intake Facility in Burlington County on March 30. In appreciation for her many contributions to incarcerated female juveniles, Dr. Rice Jordan was presented with a plaque. Over a period of a decade, Rice Jordan has supported troubled young girls in a variety of ways. Among the things she has contributed have been opportunities to take college courses, films and books for their library, tutoring, and serving as their mentor.

Westminster Choir College

• Blake Henson (BM ’05, MM ’07) has been awarded a major commission to compose a work for the Los Angeles Master Chorale. One of the nation’s premiere choral ensembles, the Los Angeles Master Chorale has commissioned works from many of the most famous composers of our time and has made numerous, critically-acclaimed recordings of new choral works.
• Matt Rendulic (MM ’07) has received a major commission from the Pennsylvania Music Educator’s Association for a work for band that will be premiered as part of its 2007 state festival. As part of the requirements for this commission, Rendulic will present a series of lectures for the musicians who will perform the premiere the composition.
• Santa Barbara Music Publishing will publish two works by Jacob Groff (MM ’06) as part of its Joseph Ohrt (BM ’86) series. Desolation and Destiny are for unaccompanied mixed chorus. They will appear in Santa Barbara’s January 2007 release, along with a new choral work of Stacey Wong (BM ‘01).
• Ryan Brechmacher (BM ’07) received a commission from Bruce Corrigan, director of bands at Bowling Green Junior High School. The composition, “Proud Music of the Storm,”will premiere this spring in Bowling Green, OH. Brechmacher is a double-major in piano and composition.
• Bethany Trainor (BM '07) will hear her "Open Range" for string orchestra performed by the Chamber Music Players of the New Jersey State Youth Orchestra in May under the direction of Dr. Wayne Arndt. With other recipients Rider University Undergraduate Research Scholar Awards, Trainor presented an overview of her research on April 21.

Student Support Services

• Jetty Hartsky, a freshman English major, was inducted into Alpha Lambda Delta, an honor society for first-year students, on March 8.

Latin American Student Organization

• Graduating seniors Rahmael Magny, a fine arts major; Adolfo Peralta, a political science major; Arthur Couthen, a communication major; and Lilian Pichardo, a fine arts major, were presented awards for their contributions as active members at the Latin American Student Organization’s (LASO) “Cinco de Mayo” festival on April 26 in the Cavalla Room of the Bart Luedeke Center (BLC). Sally Carei-Martinez, a counselor in Student Support Services, was also presented the Irving Navarro Service Award for her support throughout the year.