Meet a few of Rider’s newest Broncs

A handful of Rider's newest class members were asked to introduce themselves and explain what it means to them to be a Bronc. 

Amani J.K. Alexander

 Amani J.K. Alexander (the J.K. stands for Janice Kinch, her two middle names) comes to Rider from Austin, Texas. She intends to pursue a B.F.A. in musical theatre. She came to Rider because the program and the faculty felt like the perfect fit for her. This fall, her hope is to "get into a steady routine and start bonding with all of my fellow Broncs!" She's very interested in social justice issues and creative writing, and is also a big reader. At Rider, she's going to look into joining student government and possibly launching her own Avatar The Last Airbender Club. For Amani, being a Bronc means "getting a chance to feel free again. Applying, auditioning, interviewing and accepting any offer were the hardest parts of the process. Being at Rider means that I've made it through all of that and I get to spend the next four years learning and having some awesome experiences. It's a privilege that I look forward to enjoying!"

Brandon Ewer

Brandon Ewer hails from Houston, Texas, and will be majoring in business administration and sports management. He choose Rider because of the great scholarship opportunities, but also because of the swim team. This semester his goal is "to improve my times in swimming and help the team on our way to a fifth conference title while also keeping up with my classes and making good grades." His is passionate about music and the Houston Texans, and is excited to be a Bronc because he looks forward to "being part of something bigger than myself and having a community of people with common goals supporting me." 

Krista Hastings

Krista Hastings comes to Rider from Frederick, Md. She is a vocal performance major in the Westminster College of the Arts and picked Rider because of the incredible location and the Princeton campus. This fall, she hopes "to make friends and gain a good grip on college itself." She love music and her dog Coda and is looking forward to her Italian classes. 

Katelyn Kelly

Katelyn Kelly has traveled to Rider from Wolcott, Conn. Katelyn is going to take time to declare her major, but she intends to pursue a focus related to music. Her decision to come to Rider happened after she took a tour. "Everyone I met was incredibly kind, intelligent, and passionate,” she says. “I immediately felt at home at Rider, and that's when I knew Rider was for me." This semester, she hopes to do well in her classes and make some good friends. She's interested in music, theater, psychology and the sciences. She most looks forward to Great Ideas I because of the reading and discussion involved. For her, being a Bronc means "being the best you that you can be. You go out of your way to help and inspire people, and to achieve all that you can to bring pride to your community." 

Samuel Vargas

Samuel Vargas, who prefers to go by Sam, has come to New Jersey from the Sunshine State of Gainesville, Fla. He intends to pursue the popular music culture major, and he came to Rider because of its reputation. His hope this fall is to "make new friends and get ahead in my profession." He remains passionate about music and hopes to be a music teacher one day. His favorite courses involve music and theater, but he's also interested in science classes. For extracurricular activities, he hopes to join a choir, play volleyball and explore Rider's many study abroad programs. About becoming a Bronc, he writes:

"There is a difference between being a student and being a true Bronc. The student is just your every person who goes to school and studies hard and plays hard. The student participates in clubs and even has some school spirit. A Bronc, on the other hand, are the students who stand out, because normal is overrated. They treat Rider like it's their second home. They are the ones who dedicate their time to accomplish their goals. They are the 'spirit' in school spirit, the 'fan' in fanatic.”