Rider University Student Megan Ptaszenski Assumes Leadership Role for American Cancer Society

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Megan Ptaszenski of Riverside, N.J., a senior Journalism major at Rider University

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ (12/10/2009)(readMedia)-- After the success of Rider University's Relay For Life last spring, one of the student organizers, Megan Ptaszenski of Riverside, N.J., has taken on a greater leadership role when she became a member of the National Collegiate Leadership Summit for the American Cancer Society.

In her new role, Ptaszenski, a senior Journalism major, was one of 12 students selected to serve as a breakout facilitator for the Eastern Division Relay For Life Leadership Conference in November. Ptaszenski, who also helped organize the conference, said it was rewarding to help others with the same questions she had prior to Rider's Relay For Life - one of the American Cancer Society's signature awareness and fundraising events.

"I not only used information from the breakout packet, but I shared my own experiences and tactics that I had used in different situations," she said. "Our strategies and tactics actually worked and we were able to pull off a successful Relay."

In addition, Rider's Relay For Life received the "Top Performing College Event in All of New Jersey" award at the regional conference. The Eastern Division, based in Lawrenceville, includes colleges and universities from all of New Jersey and New York, including New York University and Ithaca University.

"I was in complete shock. I was so proud. Just to be named with those two Relays was a great honor. Being that it was our first Relay, it definitely summed up the whole experience for me," Ptaszenski said. "We made an impact. People from all over New Jersey and New York saw that. I really felt like we were leaders."

More than 600 community members came together, to honor cancer survivors and their caregivers during Rider University's first Relay For Life last March. Altogether, Rider's Relay generated $56,000, more than doubling its goal of $25,000.

Ptaszenski said shortly after the Relay, Christine Sagge '06, director of Special Events for the ACS's Eastern Division, encouraged her and the Relay's other student organizers to apply for the National Collegiate Leadership Summit position. As a summit leader, Ptaszenski also attended the National Collegiate Summit conference in Texas this summer.

Rider will hold its second annual Relay For Life, with a Hollywood theme, this spring from 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, through 8 a.m. on March 28 in the Student Recreation Center. This year, Ptaszenski is in charge of team recruitment. For more information about Rider's upcoming Relay For Life, please visit www.relayforlife.org/rideruniversity.

Since 1985, Relay for Life has spread to more 4,700 communities in the United States and has become a worldwide movement, taking place in nine countries. The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service.

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