Sunday, May 16, 2021
Much-anticipated celebrations follow a year of delay for last year's class because of the pandemic
by Rachel Stengel '14, '20
More than 2,400 Rider graduates from the Classes of 2020 and 2021 were honored during much-anticipated Commencement ceremonies on May 15 and 16. Rider hosted 12 small ceremonies based on graduating year, degree and college/school under two large tents on its Lawrenceville campus.
Undergraduate and graduate students studying business, education, performing arts, liberal arts and the sciences finally had the chance to celebrate with their fellow classmates and families after finishing their degrees during a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic.
"Arriving at this moment is particularly meaningful this year," said Rider President Gregory G. Dell'Omo. "The COVID-19 pandemic created new challenges where there were none and made existing challenges even harder...You faced these circumstances with courage and overcame them with hope instead of despair, with faith instead of doubt. Everyone with us today shares that hope and faith in your future."
-
Scenes from Saturday's Commencement ceremonies -
Scenes from Saturday's Commencement ceremonies -
Scenes from Saturday's Commencement ceremonies -
Scenes from Saturday's Commencement ceremonies -
Scenes from Saturday's Commencement ceremonies -
Scenes from Saturday's Commencement ceremonies -
Scenes from Saturday's Commencement ceremonies -
Scenes from Saturday's Commencement ceremonies
-
Scenes from Saturday's Commencement ceremonies
On May 15, marketing major Sarah Carbonaro ’21 delivered the student speech to the Class of 2021. She asked her fellow graduates to reflect on a struggle they overcame to arrive at Commencement and shared her own story of losing her father to cancer during her time at Rider. The message she left for her classmates: Even in times of great adversity, there are plenty of good things to celebrate.
"Remember my dad’s wise words: If you search for good things, you will find them," she said.
While most members of the Rider Class of 2021 hailed from New Jersey, about 20% were from outside the Garden State, representing 22 states and Puerto Rico. The class also represented 18 countries: Canada, China, Costa Rica, Liberia, Malaysia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Spain, Vietnam, Mongolia, Germany, Brazil, Pakistan, Nepal, India and Russian Federation.
Charles Palmer '20 addressed the Class of 2020, which waited a year to celebrate with their classmates in person. A virtual ceremony was held last year. Palmer urged his classmates to embrace empathy and to have the courage to follow their own paths in life.
"Class of 2020, the most important thing you can do for yourself is to find what you’re passionate about in life and never lose sight," he said.
The Rider Class of 2020 consisted of nearly 18% of out-of-state students, representing 26 states and two territories. About 5% of the class was made up of international students hailing from Guatemala, China, Netherlands, Spain, Ethiopia, France, India, Panama, Mexico, Belgium, Indonesia, Germany, Israel, Burundi, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Uzbekistan, Nigeria, Russian Federation and Turkey.
-
Scenes from Sunday's Commencement ceremonies -
Scenes from Sunday's Commencement ceremonies -
Scenes from Sunday's Commencement ceremonies -
Scenes from Sunday's Commencement ceremonies -
Scenes from Sunday's Commencement ceremonies -
Scenes from Sunday's Commencement ceremonies -
Scenes from Sunday's Commencement ceremonies -
Scenes from Sunday's Commencement ceremonies -
Scenes from Sunday's Commencement ceremonies -
Scenes from Sunday's Commencement ceremonies -
Scenes from Sunday's Commencement ceremonies
On May 14, 83 students from the Westminster College College Class of 2021 graduated on Rider's Lawrenceville campus for the first time in school history. After the ceremony, voice performance major James Harris ’21 won a brand-new car in Rider's annual Cruisin' From Commencement contest. Organized by the University's student-run radio station, 107.7 The Bronc WRRC-FM, 10 finalists lined up to test car keys in a new 2021 Toyota Corolla LE. Harris' key was the only one to make the engine roar. Each finalist submitted a video encapsulating their college experience. A panel of judges selected the top 10.
Harris' grand prize included a two-year lease on a new 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE and ToyotaCare, a vehicle maintenance and roadside assistance plan, for two years courtesy of Team Toyota of Princeton.