Saturday, May 17, 2025
More than 750 degrees awarded, with U.S. Sen. Andy Kim receiving an honorary degree
by Adam Grybowski
Rider University awarded more than 750 undergraduate degrees during its Commencement ceremony at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, New Jersey, on Saturday, May 17. The ceremony was the 160th in the University’s history, as well as the final one for Rider’s president, Gregory G. Dell’Omo, Ph.D., who is retiring this summer.
“Your accomplishments make this an extraordinarily happy day for all of us. And in awarding your degree, we share with you that sense of mastery, pride and joy that comes with reaching a hard-earned goal,” said Dell’Omo, who was honored during the ceremony, along with his wife, Polly, for their decade of commitment to Rider and its students.
U.S. Sen. Andy Kim, who has served as New Jersey’s senator since 2024, received an honorary Doctor of Laws during the undergraduate ceremony. In his speech to the graduates, he emphasized the need for greater empathy and its critical role in our society.
“It’s not just about what we try to do and accomplish in our lives, but how we treat people along the way,” said Kim, a lifelong public servant who is the first Korean American elected to the U.S. Senate and New Jersey’s first Asian American senator. “As you think of your next steps, I hope you think about what you want to do for others and how you take on that responsibility.”
A total of 29 states in the U.S. were represented by the Class of 2025, including California, Texas, Maine and Kansas. Of the class’ 769 students, 72% hailed from New Jersey. Thirty students, or 4%of the total class, were international. Among the 11 countries they represented were China, Italy, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia. Reflecting long standing trends in completion of bachelor’s degrees, this year’s class skewed female, who made up 57% percent of all graduates. About four in 10 graduates (41% percent) were underrepresented students.
Jared Hiller '25, a double major in secondary education and mathematics, delivered remarks as the undergraduate student speaker, sounding themes of resiliency displayed by this year’s graduates, many of whom entered Rider following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As the first class to enter campus after two years of asynchronous learning, we had to step up and bring this campus back to life,” he said. “We strengthened our community by going to on-campus events, joining organizations, completing internships and even building communities beyond the country.”
Angilee Blake, a finance and business analytics double major who accumulated more than 900 hours as a Bonner Community Scholar, and Christina Natoli, a political science major, who was this year’s student body president, received President’s Awards. The award is given to graduating seniors who demonstrate exemplary leadership skills, academic achievement, service to the University and extracurricular involvement. Blake also received the Senior Engaged Learning Award.
Dell’Omo encouraged the graduates to embrace the newfound opportunities in front of them by using the knowledge and experiences they gained at Rider.
“I encourage you, with all my heart, to take your place in the world,” he said, “with purpose, passion, enthusiasm and confidence.”
