The College of Continuing Studies presented Maria Fischer of Plainsboro, a graduating liberal studies major, with a Citation for Achievement on April 28 at the university-wide awards day ceremony. Fischer was recognized for exemplifying the unique strengths and aspirations of an adult student. She graduated summa cum laude from Rider on May 10, and will begin studying at Seton Hall University School of Law in August with the goal of become an advocate for special needs children.
Fischer, who interrupted her education in the 1980s, was a wife, mother of three, and vice president of Gerry Cosby & Company, a New York City-based sporting retail company, when she resumed her education at Rider in 2000.
Throughout her seven years at Rider, Fischer has taken an active role in her children’s educational needs, volunteered in her community and accepted additional duties at her work. Despite all of her responsibilities, she excelled at Rider, being named a second-year Andrew J. Rider Scholar, undergraduate research scholar, and a member of the Omnicron Delta Kappa and Honor Key Societies.
While at Rider, Fischer, whose original educational goal was simply to complete an undergraduate degree, gained the confidence to transform her educational goal to becoming a lawyer and advocate for special needs children.
“I would like to use my education tempered with the compassion of a parent who has worked within the system to help families better navigate a life of choices for their children rather than settle for a life of limitations,” said Fischer, the mother of a special needs child. “I not only want to advocate on behalf of individual families but work to improve existing policies.”##M:[more]##
Rider University: Farrah Thomson is on the spring dean’s list. A communication and journalism major with an advertising minor, she is a member of Phi Eta Sigma, National Freshman Honor Society, and Lambda Pi Eta, the national communication honor society. She is a graduate of High School North, Class of 2004.
Bucknell University: Karen Chen of West Windsor is on the dean’s list. She is a graduate of High School South, Class of 2003.
Lehigh University: Eric William Beam received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering. He is a graduate of High School North, Class of 2003.
Mercer College: Augustine James Dashiell of Plainsboro received the Troxell Communications Scholarship in recognition of academic excellence during the honors convocation. He graduated with an associate degree in communications. A military technician, he will continue his education at Rutgers University.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor: Zachary Hirsch received a bachelor of science, magna cum laud, from the school of engineering with a major in computer science and minors in physics and ancient Greek. A graduate of High School South, Class of 2003, he is currently traveling in Europe and plans to begin work for VM Ware in Palo Alto, California in the fall.
Muhlenberg College: Elissa M. Hughes of West Windsor graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Whitney M. Arons, also of West Windsor, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in business.
University of Notre Dame: Gregory Kelley of West Windsor is on the dean’s list. This summer he is working as an internal auditor at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio.
Penn State University: Nadia Udeshi graduated with a bachelor of design degree in graphics design. She is a graduate of High School South, Class of 2002. She is currently on a whirlwind tour of Europe.
Perdue University: Rob Mihalyi, a graduate of High School North, Class of 2005, is on the dean’s list. He is a sophomore.
University of Rochester: Meg M. Colbert of West Windsor graduate magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree in art history. She received the Elizabeth M. Anderson prize for her senior art thesis.
Saint Joseph’s University: Marybeth Kowalski of Plainsboro has accepted membership in the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. A graduate of High School North, Class of 2006, she is a double major in elementary and special education. Her activities include Best Buddies, a program that provides relationships with individuals with disabilities, Club Field Hockey, Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, and Service Learning Program, tutoring disadvantaged adults hopes of attaining their GED. She has been on the dean’s list both semesters this year.
University of Scranton: Peter J. Guala graduated with a bachelor of science in economics and a minor in finance. He was on dean’s list for the spring semester. A graduate of High School North, Class of 2003, he will attend the University of Miami School of Law in the fall.
Washington and Lee University: Neville Lyons Fogarty of West Windsor is on the dean’s list. He is a freshman. Jonathan Michael Lupo, also of West Windsor, is on the dean’s list. He is a sophomore.
