A new business competition is offering young high school entrepreneurs the chance to attend Rider University on a full-tuition scholarship.

The Norm Brodsky Idea/Business Concept Competition is making available a grand prize of a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to Rider University for a high school senior, as well as cash prizes and other incentives for high school sophomores and juniors.

“This competition will help students fulfill their dreams of attending college,” said Dr. Lee Zane, associate professor of entrepreneurship and coordinator of the competition. “We are thrilled Norm Brodsky is supporting the competition and greatly appreciate his generosity in providing a full scholarship to the winner of the senior division.”

Norm Brodsky ’64, the competition’s new sponsor, is a proud Rider alumnus and world-renowned entrepreneur who has launched eight successful businesses. He is also the author of the popular Street Smarts column in Inc. Magazine and the book The Knack: How Street Smart Entrepreneurs Learn How to Handle Whatever Comes Up.

Students can enter the competition by submitting a 400-word description of an idea or business concept at http://www.rider.edu/BrodskyCompetition

To read more stories about Rider, scroll down:

Rider University Named a Green College for 8th Straight Year
Science Research Takes Rider Students Around the World
Media Internships Boost Staff of Rider Student Newspaper
In Competitive Internship, Three Rider Students are Devils Advocates

Entries should clearly identify the product or service, who or what is the typical customer for this product or service, why the customer will want this product or service, and describe how the product or service will be provided to the customer.

The competition is open to high school sophomores, juniors and seniors; however, it has two categories, each with its own set of prizes:

• Seniors are eligible to compete for a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to Rider University and a trophy for their high school.
• Sophomores and juniors are eligible to compete for $750, a trophy for their high school and automatic entrance to the finals when they are a senior.

The top five finalists in each category will be invited to present their business concept at Rider before a panel of judges on Jan. 17, 2018 in a live finale, followed by celebration banquet.

The Norm Brodsky Idea/Business Concept Competition is a new iteration of the fourth annual High School Business Concept Competition presented by the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies of Rider’s College of Business Administration. It is designed to recognize and promote exceptional entrepreneurial skill and creativity among high school students.

“The competition has grown in its previous three years and we are looking forward to reaching more high school students this time, thanks to Norm’s incredible support,” said Dr. Ron Cook, director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and associate dean of the College of Business.

Rider’s business and accounting programs are accredited by AACSB International – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Dual accreditation in business management and accounting is held by only two percent of programs worldwide, reflecting the University’s commitment to excellence.

The Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, which helps individuals discover and nurture their entrepreneurial potential for the creation of new ventures and the enhancement of their entrepreneurial spirit, also recognizes the generosity of the Gretalia Hospitality Group and ZieglerWorld for their support of the competition.

Please visit www.rider.edu/BrodskyCompetition for more information and to enter the competition.

Questions? Contact Dr. Lee Zane at zane@rider.edu or 609-895-5468.

Rider University Named a Green College for 8th Straight Year

For the eight-straight year, The Princeton Review has recognized Rider’s commitment to the environment and sustainability by naming the University among the 375 most environmentally responsible colleges in its Green College Guide.

“I am proud of the work that’s been done by my staff, committee and campus partners to keep Rider moving forward toward a sustainable future,” said Melissa Greenberg, Rider’s sustainability manager. “This is a team effort that takes collaboration from various departments to make this placement in the Princeton Review possible. We are not only lessening our impact on the environment and saving money but educating our students about our impact as a university and their role, as well.”

Rider was chosen based on data from the company’s 2016-17 survey of hundreds of four-year colleges concerning their commitments to the environment and sustainability.

“We strongly recommend Rider University to the many environmentally-minded students who seek to study and live at green colleges,” said The Princeton Review’s Robert Franek, senior vice president-publisher.

Franek noted the growing interest the company has seen among college-bound students in green colleges. “Among more than 10,000 teens and parents who participated in our 2017 College Hopes & Worries Survey, 64 percent told us that having information about a school’s commitment to the environment would influence their decision to apply to or attend the college.”

“Broncs Go Green” is the driving force for sustainability initiatives on Rider’s two campuses in Lawrenceville and Princeton, defined by the four R’s: reduce, reuse, refuse (the purchase of non-sustainable goods) and recycle. Rider’s Office of Sustainability leads the effort to establish a more environmentally aware campus. In addition to Greenberg, the office includes an Energy and Sustainability Steering Committee and a team of student Eco-Reps a volunteer “green team,” one of whom sits on the new Student Government Association Facilities Committee.

Greenberg has completed three greenhouse gas inventories and a carbon neutrality plan as well as given input on the sustainable features included in campus construction projects. These projects include a LEED Silver residence hall completed in March 2010; a LEED Gold academic building completed in July 2012; and a LEED Silver academic building completed in August 2014.

A guiding principle of Rider’s Energy and Sustainability Master Plan is to increase and strengthen student involvement. Students have the opportunity to apply for a job as an Eco-Rep or join the Rider Green Team. Students can also choose to take courses with an environmental focus and participate in research projects. Rider also offers a growing minor in sustainability studies, and students are encouraged by faculty to attend the successful Rider Green Film and Speaker Series, now in its eighth year.

A United States Green Building Council (USGBC) Student Club was formed and elected a board in 2015. Rider’s procurement policy has already led to 80 percent of the school’s cleaning products being Green Seal-certified. In the early fall of 2014, Rider finished construction of a Trigeneration plant that provides more than a megawatt of power in addition to hot and chilled water to Rider’s four academic buildings.

The Princeton Review, an education services company known for its test prep and tutoring services, books, and college rankings, chose the colleges based on “Green Rating” scores (from 60 to 99) that the company tallied in summer 2017 for 629 colleges using data from its 2016-17 survey of Rider University administrators.

The survey asked them to report on their Rider University’s sustainability-related policies, practices, and programs. More than 25 data points were weighted in the assessment. Schools with Green Rating scores of 80 or higher made it into this guide. Most of the schools in this edition are in the U.S. Twelve are in Canada. One is in Egypt.

Science Research Takes Rider Students Around the World

Nestled into the Min Mountains in the Chinese province of Sichuan, Loreena Avery, a junior environmental science major and sustainability minor, helped reintroduce giant pandas into the wild this summer. With fewer than 1,900 in the wild, the distinctive black and white animals are vulnerable to extinction.

Avery was participating in the Global Cause Foundation’s efforts to protect the species by reintroducing captive-born giant pandas into their natural habitat and growing their population.

“Since these pandas were born and raised in captivity, they had to be trained to survive on their own,” says Avery. “Researchers diligently select individuals who are most fit for release and carefully determine the best release site to ensure their survival in the wild.”

Avery is among a number of Rider students who are participating in science research around the globe. This year, a record number of students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences were selected for highly competitive Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) opportunities funded by the National Science Foundation.

Imani Guest studied volcanism at the University of Hawaii; Shayna Holness visited the University of Virginia to research Multi-Scale Systems and Bioengineering; Naomi Jainarine visited the University of Oregon to research marine sciences; Bretton Nabit studied neuroscience at Vanderbilt University; and Alexandra Santora visited the California Institute of Technology/Jet Propulsion Laboratories to study astrobiology. All students are now seniors.

Avery arrived in China in late June and worked alongside Dr. Ramana Callan, a researcher with Global Cause at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, by preparing a future release site for giant pandas. The site was located 6,000 feet above sea level. To get there, they drove two-hours up a mountain on a switchback road that was defined by erosion, rocks and, occasionally, waterfalls.

Avery assisted in marking square plots at the site and surveying the minute details in each plot such as soil composition, plants, ground cover and, of course, bamboo.

“The plots I marked were in a large learning enclosure, in which a panda would live for three weeks prior to being released,” Avery says. “This intermediate space gives the panda a chance to adapt to its new environment. It also gives researchers an opportunity to study the impact the animal has on its ecosystem by looking at the soil composition and biodiversity before and after the panda inhabits it.”

To survey the plots, Avery used the same skills she learned in an environmental science class taught by Dr. Dan Druckenbrod, director of sustainability and an associate professor in the Department of Geological, Environmental, & Marine Sciences. Druckenbrod says Avery’s internship provided an invaluable first-hand perspective on the concepts he introduces in his classes.

“Not only was Loreena applying scientific skills in studying the suitability of soils for panda reintroduction, she also considered the broader context of panda ecotourism through its impact on the people and economy of the region,” he says. “I’m certain too that Loreena’s insights from this experience will remain with her long after she graduates from Rider. As I’ve seen in my class, she’s a bright student who is both passionate about science and helping others — characteristics that will carry her far.”

Rider’s environmental science program requires all students to participate in extensive fieldwork, providing the knowledge and skills required for a wide range of potential careers while exploring a rich diversity of ecological environments. Such fieldwork often fulfills the requirement of all Rider students to complete at least two high-impact engaged learning experiences as part of their graduation requirements.

Out of the mountains, Avery spent a majority of her time in Dujiangyan’s Panda Valley, similar to a panda zoo, where she saw Callan work with cubs. She notes that Rider sharpened her research skills, which she used to find research articles and other pertinent information related to their studies in China.

In between traveling up mountains and spending time at Panda Valley, Avery found time to immerse herself in the local culture — eating spicy foods and making friends in the local community.

“The people were wonderful,” Avery says. “I met a girl who was my age at the local market and she invited me to her family’s lunches and dinners every day I was available. She showed me all around Dujiangyan, and helped me whenever I needed it. Before leaving for America, she gave me a bag of food from her shop that I enjoyed with my family back home. This is just a snapshot of typical Chinese hospitality.”

While contributing to the Global Cause Foundation’s efforts, Avery found her environmental studies helped her achieve a goal of sustainable action that balances society, the environment and the economy.

“This trip was an opportunity to think critically and devise solutions to issues that came up along the way,” Avery says. “The experience was a further step along the final goal of reestablishing a population of a highly revered animal for people to enjoy for many generations to come.”

Media Internships Boost Staff of Rider Student Newspaper

Leveraging the skills used to produce a weekly print newspaper and news website, the staff of Rider University’s student newspaper, The Rider News, have recently benefited from a series of coveted internships with media companies in New York and New Jersey.

In turn, they will bring their expanded skill sets back to the paper when it resumes publication for the fall semester. That cycle is part of what Dr. Jackie Incollingo, the newspaper’s faculty advisor, refers to as a “news laboratory” at the University.

“The experience of working for The Rider News has proven to be invaluable for our journalism and sports media majors in terms of clinching summer internships with professional media organizations and jobs after graduation,” says Incollingo, who is also an assistant professor of communication. “Students get hands-on experience doing background research, conducting interviews and writing on deadline about issues that really matter on our campus.”

The newspapers senior staff recently took the time to describe their roles, background and how their internships influenced their passion for writing, reporting and editing. They are currently accepting applications for students hoping to work for the publication.

Executive Editor Brandon Scalea, senior journalism major

Scalea was first attracted to the Rider News because of real-world journalism experience it offered and the excitement of covering Rider’s Division I sports teams. Scalea now finds himself in a leadership position with the newspaper.

“I oversee every section and every operation of the newspaper,” Scalea says. “I am the last set of eyes for every story and for the layout of every page. I also am responsible for deciding what we should cover.”

Using his journalistic abilities developed through a combination of academia and his participation with the Rider News, Scalea recently interned with NJ.com covering local news in the city of Trenton and in Mercer County.

“It was a very interesting experience to be able to inform a county where there certainly isn’t a shortage of news,” says Scalea. “I covered a lot of Trenton crime as well, and that was fascinating. I also covered courts in Trenton, and wrote about several murder trials and hearings for violent criminals”

Managing Editor Shanna O’Mara, senior journalism major

O’Mara joined the Rider News her freshman year and found that the focus of her journalism classes dovetailed seamlessly with her Rider News experience.

“As a journalism major, I take a lot of reporting and writing classes focused on breaking news, feature pieces, sports writing and live coverage,” says O’Mara. “I have done all of this at The Rider News. I have been able to take every lesson from the classroom and apply it to work at the paper whether it be live tweeting a speech, writing an obituary or recreating the atmosphere at a game, meet, match, concert or play through descriptive words and firsthand accounts.”

O’Mara’s most recent internship was with Pinstripes Plus, an online paid subscription magazine that covers news within the New York Yankees’ farm system. She handles writing features and profiles on players from the Trenton Thunder. According to O’Mara, there is never a dull moment when she is attending home games at Arm & Hammer Park, where she has run into Hideki Matsui while collecting information for stories.

“Every bit of experience gained at The Rider News — interview and photography skills, writing for information and entertainment, editing for clarity and word count — has helped me excel in Trenton and made it that much easier to move forward in this field with confidence,” says O’Mara.

She says she feels prepared to enter the working world after Rider.

“I have full faith in myself and the rest of our staff at the paper to leave Rider with the skills necessary to not only find employment but be happy wherever we end up,” says O’Mara.

News Editor Lauren Lavelle, junior journalism major

Lavelle pays close attention to Rider happenings and assigns articles to members of the news staff, in addition to writing one to two news articles a week. She noted that the combination of her classes and her involvement with the Rider News both contributed to her growth as a student.

“My writing has changed drastically since I began taking my journalism courses and working with the Rider News,” Lavelle says. “I now know how to structure a proper article, write a lead, edit correctly and think like a true journalist. I take skills from the classroom and apply them to my Rider News work every week.”

Lavelle’s most recent internship was in New York City with Working Mother Magazine, which focuses on women in the workforce balancing home life. At Working Mother Magazine, she typically writes an article or two a day for their website, fact-checks for the monthly print edition and does photo research. Lavelle also had the opportunity to have a print byline in the October/November issue of the magazine.

“The Rider News has definitely shown me how to work as a team and that was something this publication was all about,” says Lavelle. “It also helped me with the technical aspects of my internship. I can work with a content management system and edit an article thoroughly, and meeting the magazine’s word count per article was never a problem.”

The Rider News publishes weekly print editions every Wednesday as well as online at its newly re-designed websitewww.theridernews.com and its social media channels. If you are interested in working at the Rider News, please contact Brandon Scalea at scaleab@rider.edu.

In Competitive Internship, Three Rider Students are Devils Advocates

The New Jersey Devils receive more 1,000 internship applications every fall, spring and summer. Students from top schools across the country vie for spots that support the three-time Stanley Cup champions. Recently, three Rider University students were accepted into the Devils’ internship program, the most of any school represented.

Michelle Wood ’17, a recent Rider graduate who studied public relations, began her internship with the Devils in January. In June, she was joined by Aziz Smith-Hamilton, a senior studying business administration and sports management, and Ethan Riepe, a senior studying sports management and marketing. All three have continued their internships over the summer.

Wood interns in the communications department, working on projects for both the Devils and the Prudential Center, the multi-purpose indoor arena that is home to the Devils in Newark, N.J. For each, she writes news releases and coordinates press coverage with local media, news outlets and photographers. She also has staffed several hockey games, as well as events and concerts that come through the building.

“Interning with the Devils has been a goal of mine since I started school, and I think it’s incredible that I got to intern with two other Rider students,” Wood says. “I have always had an interest in working in sports and entertainment, and now thanks to this internship I know this is the industry I want to pursue a career in.”

Wood credits Rider with helping her land her dream internship. She transferred to Rider in the fall of 2015, and the University immediately started helping her build her resume. She started with an internship on in University Marketing and Communications and then held an internship in the entertainment industry in New York City.

“I am so thankful for my experience at Rider University,” Wood says.

“The classes are so modernized and they keep up with the latest industry trends, which is important for this type of work. Rider’s communications department offered me a lot of guidance throughout this process while letting me take the reins and create my own path. I’m glad I found my passion for sports and entertainment through my internship with the Devils, and I plan on continuing to work in this industry once my internship ends.”

Wood, Smith-Hamilton and Riepe were all able to receive credit for their internship through Rider’s internship program.

“The program is designed to provide our experiential learning, which allows them to apply what they have learned in the classroom and gain professional development,” said AJ Moore, associate professor of journalism and director of internship program for the Department of Communications and Journalism. “Part of our goal for the internship program is to take advantage of our location. Rider University is located between New York City and Philadelphia, so we utilize their job markets and have many students intern there.”

Students who enroll in Rider’s internship program find their own internship or work with Moore to obtain one. Over the semester, the students experience two levels of education— their internship experience and a class with Moore.

Every year, Rider students complete more than 1,000 internships, co-ops and field placements. The practical experience they earn puts their learning to use and helps prepare them to be ready to join the workforce. Those kinds of engaged learning experiences are one reason Rider students historically have strong outcomes following graduation. Within one year of graduation, for example, 93 percent of Rider’s undergraduate Class of 2016 was employed, pursuing graduate study or volunteering, according to a recent alumni survey conducted by Rider’s Career Development and Success.