(left to right) CCS Associate Dean Boris Vilic and Maria Fischer

The College of Continuing Studies presented Maria Fischer, a graduating liberal studies major, with a Citation for Achievement April 28 at the university-wide Awards Day ceremony. Fischer was recognized for exemplifying the unique strengths and aspirations of an adult student. She graduated summa cum laude from Rider this May, and will begin studying at Seton Hall University School of Law in August with the goal of becoming an advocate for special needs children.

Fischer, who interrupted her educational in the 1980s, was a wife, mother of three, and vice president of Gerry Cosby & Co., Inc., a New York City-based sporting retail company, when she resumed her education at Rider in 2000.

Throughout her seven years at Rider, Fischer has taken an active role in her children’s educational needs, volunteered in her community and accepted additional duties at her work. Despite all of her responsibilities, she excelled at Rider, being named a second-year Andrew J. Rider Scholar, Undergraduate Research Scholar, and a member of the Omnicron Delta Kappa and Honor Key Societies.

While at Rider, Fischer, whose original educational goal was simply to complete an undergraduate degree, gained the confidence to transform her educational goal to becoming a lawyer and advocate for special needs children.

“I would like to use my education tempered with the compassion of a parent who has worked within the system to help families better navigate a life of choices for their children rather than settle for a life of limitations,” said Fischer, the mother of a special needs child. “I not only want to advocate on behalf of individual families but work to improve existing policies.”

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