Columbia’s Diner en Blanc, an all white Dinner/banquet, took place last Saturday (October 13th). Each year, hundreds of guests gather at a secret location, which is reveal right before the event, for monocromatic night of food, fellowship and festivities. This year’s event took place at the Robert Mills House and Gardens in downtown Columbia.
Ritedose Corporation announces partnership with Benedict College
RISE Program will enable the company to tap HBCU STEM students
To meet a need for demanding company roles, The Ritedose Corporation (Ritedose) partnered with inSpring and Benedict College to develop RISE, a workforce initiative for international STEM students at the Historically Black College and University (HBCU). RISE (Ritedose International Student Engagement) provides a pathway for accomplished STEM students at Columbia-based Benedict College to secure internships and eventual employment with Ritedose, the largest CDMO in the United States specializing in sterile Blow Fill Seal production of unit dose solutions for the ophthalmic and respiratory markets. RISE is a collaboration between Ritedose, workforce development specialist inSpring and the HBCU. The program was designed to create a pipeline of Benedict STEM students who can immediately fill key laboratory positions at Ritedose and play an integral role in the company.
Jane Kiborus, the first RISE program hire at Ritedose, graduated from Benedict College in August 2024. A native of Kenya, Kiborus
works in Ritedose’s Microbiology laboratory under Cassie Robinson, the Director of Stability & Laboratory Assurance.
“The RISE program has helped me realize that I can use science to make an impact in the world,” Kiborus said. “Working in the lab with experts has exposed me to more aspects of chemistry and microbiology in the workforce and allows me to make valuable contributions. I am so thankful for the opportunity to apply the skills I learned at Benedict post-graduation in this new role at Ritedose.”
Workforce development company, inSpring, develops talent pipeline training programs for first gen and international candidates like Kiborus in the transition from academia to full-time roles with companies like Ritedose. The company helps manage work authorization for international students.
“Both Benedict College and inSpring share our commitment to developing next generation leaders. The RISE program serves to provide international students in the STEM field with meaningful work assignments and mentorship, while also meeting our critical need for talent in Microbiology and Chemistry,” Ritedose Chief Human Resource Officer Janisha Thomas said.
Ritedose anticipates the RISE program will provide a continuous pipeline of talent from future classes at Benedict College.
Imran Oomer, co-founder at inSpring adds, “We’re delighted to partner with two innovative organizations – Ritedose and Benedict College – to accelerate transformational education-to-workforce initiatives like RISE to propel candidates like Jane into critical roles powering the regional economy.”
“The RISE Program offers international students the chance to become well versed in their field and develop the necessary skills to land a fulltime job. By placing them at Ritedose where they can work hands-on in laboratory-based positions, students are able to expand their knowledge, providing the perfect gateway to an H1 visa,” said Interim Dean of the School of Science and Engineering at Benedict College Dr. Jessica Furrer.
