Monday, Apr 28, 2014
Outcomes of a Rider Education website will receive 'Internet's highest honor'
by Kristine A. Brown
Rider University’s Outcomes of a Rider Education website has been selected as an Official Honoree in the 18th annual Webby Awards in the School/University category. Hailed as the "Internet's highest honor" by The New York Times, The Webby Awards, presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet.
Rider’s Outcomes website was created to highlight the achievements of recent graduates who share their stories of personal and professional success.
“At Rider, we believe the success of our students is a shared responsibility," Tara Laposa, director of internet projects at Rider, says. "Our Outcomes website gives us the opportunity to highlight recent alumni who have excelled early on in their careers, and attribute that success in large part to their experiences and education earned at Rider.”
David-Michel Davies, executive director of The Webby Awards, says, "Honorees like Rider University are setting the standard for innovation and creativity on the Internet. It is an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the 12,000 entries we received this year."
The 18th annual Webby Awards received 12,000 entries from over 60 countries and all 50 states. Out of all the 12,000 entries submitted, fewer than 15 percent received this honor and were deemed an official honoree.
“In today’s economic climate, we are often asked about the job placements of our recent graduates," Laposa says. "Many conversations with parents and students often include the topic of employment and how Rider will help them achieve professional success after graduation.”
According to a recent survey completed by Rider’s Career Services department, 97% of Rider graduates are employed full or part-time, pursuing graduate study, or involved in a volunteer or fellowship position within six months of graduating. “We are able to tell this story, through the voice of our graduates, on our Outcomes website,” Laposa says.
To further assist students with all facets of career planning, Career Services recently launched a new, comprehensive website complete with jobs and internship opportunities, upcoming events and workshops, and interactive tools to create documents such as resumes and cover letters.
“We couldn’t be more proud that our Outcomes website was honored with a Webby official honoree," Laposa says. "To be included in the company of such distinguished honorees is not only gratifying, but a real testament to our dedication to excellence and quality.”
The IADAS, which nominates and selects The Webby Award winners, is comprised of web industry experts, including media mogul Arianna Huffington, Skype CEO Tony Bates, Mozilla CEO and Chair Mitchell Baker, Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom, mobile-phone inventor Martin Cooper and GIF creator Steve Wilhite.