Award for Outstanding Leadership (up to 20 leaders total may be selected for this award, approximately 4-5 per class year): This award is for students who demonstrate exceptional campus leadership. Awards will be selected by class year (First-Year Student, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior)  for RCNJ campus involvement, academics, and leadership.

Jerome Lee Memorial Award for Outstanding Leadership (up to 3 leaders will be selected for this award): The Jerome Lee Memorial Award for Outstanding Leadership is named in honor of the Director of the Student Center who died in 1995. Jerome Lee valued high ethical and moral standards and gladly extended his capacity for human love to all those with whom he came in contact. Applicants for the Jerome Lee Memorial Award should demonstrate in their work within the co-curriculum leadership through grace, human kindness, and the art of gentle persuasion—all traits which characterized Jerome’s work. To be eligible students must be seniors with a graduation application on file for January 2026, May 2026 or plan to graduate August 2026.

The Pillars Award (up to 3 leaders will be selected for this award): This prestigious award honors those senior student leaders who have demonstrated over the course of their career at Ramapo College outstanding leadership, a strong commitment to the mission of the College, and dedication to fostering a positive and inclusive living and learning environment. The recipient should be considered by others to be the product and embodiment of the four Ramapo pillars of interdisciplinary curriculum, international education, intercultural understanding and experiential learning.  To be eligible students must be seniors with a graduation application on file for January 2026, May 2026, or plan to graduate August 2026. The criteria for consideration are as follows:

• Outstanding contributions to the quality of campus life through sustained participation in co-curricular activities and/or programs.
• Improvements in the college community through initiation of services or programs which support the college’s mission and strategic plan.
• Distinctive service to the student body through exceptional performance in an established position, whereby the manner in which the duties of that office were discharged have a substantial impact on the quality of student life and campus climate.
• Performance, leadership, communication, and commitment that reflects the ideals of the four pillars of Ramapo which may be viewed here: ramapo.edu/about/mission/

Outstanding Leadership by a First-Year Student

Nathaniel Bergren
Julia Rowan
El Sharo

Outstanding Leadership by a Sophomore Student

Ava Cicero-Johnso
Ossiris Garcia
Bibhuti Ghimire
Jennifer Lopez
Matthew Zegla

Outstanding Leadership by a Junior Student

Desiree S. Bounds
Faith J. Duncan
Katelynn Haury
Luannee A. Hernandez
Liz Mendicino
Daniel Rajakumar
Stephen Raymond
Chantalle A. Reyes
Shane Shaji
Cookie Wahba

Outstanding Leadership by a Senior Student

Bijay Adhikari
Saadat Sarwar Chowdhury
Kalme Moncavo

Gaby Contla
Nikita Hanover
Sharleen Lee
Ekaprana Ramesh

Janelle A. Boamah
Naydelin Reyes Rodriguez
Victor Oluwagbemi
Stefanie Viera