Wednesday, Jun 13, 2018
Graduates honored during ceremony at annual reunions celebration
On June 9, five prominent Rider University alumni were recognized for their outstanding contributions to leadership, volunteerism, their field and engaged learning during Rider's annual reunion celebration on the Lawrenceville campus.
Eric Herr '88, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Rider and now serves as managing director and senior banker for NewStar Financial, received the Gordon E. Prichard Award for his exemplary volunteerism. Herr and small group of track and field alumni formed a steering committee and raised $150,000 to secure the naming rights of the University’s track for Mike Brady '76, who passed away last November. Through Herr's leadership and drive, along with the rest of the group, the goal expanded and Rider is now creating an Operations Building & Pavilion. The building will greatly enhance the daily operations of the track and field program, professionalize meet management and bolster recruiting efforts while honoring Coach Brady's legacy.
Warren Moore '05, president and CEO of Children's Specialized Hospital, received the Harold L. Conover Leadership Award. He oversees more than 1,300 employees and 13 facilities in New Jersey at the nation’s leading provider of inpatient and outpatient care for children facing special health challenges. More than 30,000 children benefit from the hospital's services annually. Moore also serves on the New Jersey Council of Children’s Hospitals Leadership Committee and the Board of Directors of Ronald McDonald House of Central & Northern New Jersey. He holds a bachelor's in business management from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a master's degree in health and human services administration from Rider.
Meg Columbia-Walsh '85 received the Distinguished Alumna Award for her more than 20 years of award-winning entrepreneurship. She has sold five companies and been an officer in an IPO as the founder and CEO of CBSHealthwatch. She is currently the co-founder of Wylei, an artificial intelligence and machine learning company in marketing technology. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Rider while attending on a full basketball scholarship and was inducted into the Rider Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001 for her accomplishments on the courts of the women's basketball and volleyball teams. Columbia-Walsh is a former member of the Board of Trustees, Rider President’s Council and has been an integral founding member of the Rider Women's Leadership Council.
Joshua Veltrie '11 was honored for his impressive early-career achievements and presented with the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award. As a production assistant with NBC Universal, he has had opportunity to cover professional hockey, soccer, cycling, football and the Olympics in Russia and Brazil. Veltrie has received four Sports Emmys for his work. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a concentration in radio and television and a minor in the business of sports, graduating summa cum laude.
Col. Donald Williams II '80 received the Lawson R. McElroy Award in Engaged Learning for his dedication to fostering learning outside the classroom. In addition to his work at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, he dedicates his time and energy to a youth development organization based in Montgomery County, Maryland, that he co-founded. Since 2007, the organization has helped elevate young people from nearby disadvantaged communities by boosting their graduation rates and providing guidance for them to succeed on their path forward.