Twelve students from Rider University's' Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and six other Rider students attended The Carroll F.S. Hardy National Black Student Leadership Development Conference in Arlington, VA, January 5-8. The theme was "Here Am I! Send Me." The students were selected for their academic achievement, leadership ability, and campus involvement. The EOP students were: Shaun Clarida, a senior communication major; Karen Lakomy, a sophomore psychology major; Joshabel DeLa Cruz, a freshman communication major; Sharee Truex, a freshman psychology major; Iyeshia Jefferson, a freshman accounting major; Sameera'h Keith, a freshman psychology major; Mallory McCarthy, a junior psychology major; Travarus Fauntleroy, a sophomore business administration major; Gina Streeter, a senior political science major; Latisha Jamison, a junior communication major; Susan Pierre, a senior elementary education/communication major; and Tyneisha Jones, a senior psychology major. EOP graduate assistant Reggie Walker attended with Rubin Joyner, director of Rider's EOP. The other Rider students in attendance were: Cleveland Belin, a junior marketing major; Alonzo Williams, a junior marketing major; Francis Zuccarini, a junior accounting major; Student Support Services (SSS) student Adrian Jones, a freshman communication major; Khaleeqa Rouse, a senior global business major; and Tia Teabout, a senior business education major. The students, according to Joyner, came back poised to help make the campus community a better place.

Dr. Maury Randall, chairperson of the finance department, and Dr. David Suk, associate professor of finance, received a Best Paper Award Certificate for their presentation of "Demographic Divergence: Economic Weakness in Japan and Implications for the United States." The presentation was made at the Association for Global Business Conference in Miami Beach, FL, in November, 2005. The paper has also been published in the Fall 2005 edition of "The Journal of Current Research in Global Business."