Eight Make the Grade, Dean's List at Rider U.

They left the local school system for higher education but kept their academic excellence in the state of New Jersey.

And because of that, eight Rider University students and Hackettstown residents were named to the Dean's List at the Lawrenceville college.

They are:

Keira Aukamp of Hackettstown, NJ, a junior Psychology major
Christopher Brooks of Hackettstown, NJ, a sophomore Journalism major
Alicia DeGraw of Hackettstown, NJ, a sophomore Elementary Education major
Jessica Despreaux of Hackettstown, NJ, a junior Elementary Education major
Tiffany Dill of Hackettstown, NJ, a senior Biology major
Kaitlin Jenkins of Hackettstown, NJ, a sophomore Elementary Education major
Danielle Maternick of Hackettstown, NJ, a senior Elementary Education major
Kevin Oswald of Hackettstown, NJ, a sophomore History major

Rider University enrolls nearly 6,000 students as undergraduates, graduates and non-traditional adult learners. The school offers more than 60 undergraduate programs in fine and performing arts.