Friday, May 11, 2018
Ceremony held on May 11 in Trenton
by Adam Grybowski
On Friday, May 11, Rider University conferred 473 degrees to graduate and College of Continuing Studies students during a ceremony at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, New Jersey.
“Today is an exciting day in that we are celebrating the graduation of over 400 students," said President Gregory G. Dell’Omo in his opening remarks. “It was your deep love of learning that led you to Rider and set you on a journey to expand your horizons. Your education has broadened the skills and experiences that shape your lives and has deepened the knowledge base on which you can draw.”
Mark Schweiker ‘83, a former governor of Pennsylvania who received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Rider in 2004, delivered remarks to the class.
“It’s more than a ritual. It’s more than a diploma. It does translate into career advancement. It does translate into career opportunities. You just need to make sure you plug in,” Schweiker said.
Lori Schroeder, who earned a bachelor's in nursing science, was the student speaker. A nurse at Capital Health in Trenton, New Jersey, for 24 years, she had already earned a diploma in nursing from Mercer Medical Center and her associate's in science from Mercer County Community College, but she wanted to earn her bachelor's to keep up with the new standards in her field. She took classes over the course of three years while working full time and raising three children.
“It’s time to acknowledge how you got here and relish this moment. I wish you all balance so you can grow both personally and professionally,” Schroeder said.
Dr. Kathy Price, an associate professor in the Department of Piano and Voice, and Dr. Karen Gischlar, an associate professor in the Department of Graduate Education, Leadership, and Counseling, both received a Distinguished Teaching Award in recognition of their dedication to students. Dr. Mitchell Ratner, an associate professor in the Department of Finance and Economics, received the Dominick A. Iorio Research Award.
Thirty-five percent of those earning a graduate degree at the ceremony had previously received a bachelor’s from Rider. Most of the class (63 percent) were female, and 9 percent hailed from outside of the United States. The class represents 16 countries other than the U.S., including Malaysia, Senegal, France and Brazil. Twenty-one percent were students of color. In the College of Continuing Studies, 36 percent were students of color. Ten percent of CCS students called a state outside of New Jersey home.
The event marked the second year in a row that Rider’s Lawrenceville Commencement was held off-campus. Holding Commencement ceremonies at CURE Insurance Arena allows the University to offer more ceremony tickets per student than it was able to provide when inclement weather forced Commencement indoors.