Lisa Petrigliano Montany

Lisa Petrigliano Montany raised her family of two girls, ages 17 and 22, in her Maywood, N.J. home. After a 30 year absence, Lisa returned to complete her degree in Elementary Education and proudly achieved a 4.0 GPA in her first semester back. 

She currently works with the Maywood Recreation Department to develop and implement programs for children, adults and senior citizens.

Hannah Velarde

Hannah Velarde of Oakland, N.J. is an Elementary Education Major with a minor in Psychology.  She is a member of the Honors Program and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Eventually, she plans on earning a Master’s and a Ph.D. in Education.

Hannah is involved with Ramapo Admissions Student Ambassadors, Commuter Affairs, and Big Brothers Big Sisters, where she engages with children through homework and activities. 

Off-campus, she volunteers at North Hudson Community Fairs, and for almost nine years, she has volunteered at A Step Ahead Preschool in North Bergen, N.J. There, she assists with curriculum development, plays with children, and learns essential classroom skills. She also started a Garden Project, where the children learn how to harvest vegetables and eat healthy. 

Hannah has a 3.3. GPA.

Kimberly Evans

“I hope to get a job as a high school history teacher and eventually go to graduate school to earn my Master’s degree in history,” says Kimberly Evans, a History major in the Teacher Certification Program as well as the College Honors Program. She has a 3.96 GPA.
At Ramapo, Kimberly serves as the secretary for the Future Teachers at Ramapo Club junior year in addition to becoming a member of Phi Alpha Theta, the History Honors Society, and Kappa Delta Pi, the International Honor Society in Education. In the spring of 2018, she worked in conjunction with the EOF Program as a Student Supplemental Instructor. She also previously worked at the Jane Addams Papers Project as a transcription assistant.

Currently, Kimberly is a student teacher in a high school history classroom at Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes, where she would love to become more involved by volunteering to help run a club. Some of her proudest accomplishments include giving a college lecture to Dr. Mustafa’s World Civilizations class and presenting her research at the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference in November 2018.
Kimberly is from Sayreville, N.J

Benjamin Sinclair

“I have worked so hard to get where I am today, and it is so rewarding to know that my achievements have not gone unnoticed,” says Benjamin Sinclair of Mahwah, N.J.

After graduating from Montclair State University with honors, Benjamin is now a post-baccalaureate student who is working to attain his teaching certificate.

He is a full-time student teacher at Cresskill Middle School, where he would like to become more involved at by volunteering to help run a club or coach a sport, and he’s an honorary member of the Mahwah Company #2 fire department.

Benjamin’s goal is to complete the education program and teach social studies to middle school students.  His current GPA is a 3.9.

Rachel Loia

Rachel Loia is from Randolph, N.J. and is studying Biology with a Teacher Certification. She has a GPA of 3.87 and has made the Dean’s List her first two semesters. She hopes to become a high school biology teacher and share her knowledge of the scientific world with her students.

She serves as treasurer of the Beekeeping Club, has tutored for OSS, was a teaching assistant for a biology lab, and works in the greenhouse. Rachel also judges speech and debate tournaments and rock climbs in her free time.

Katrina Federico

Katrina Federico spent a semester in Italy where she volunteered to teach American Culture to a 3^rd grade class in a Florentine public school.  “The experience was life changing and inspired me to teach abroad, and help educate students all over the world,” she says. Katrina will graduate in May with a degree in Psychology in the Teacher Certification program (elementary and middle school math certification).

While at Ramapo, Katrina has taken every leadership and teaching opportunity available.  She is the Vice President of Programming for Delta Phi Epsilon sorority, the treasurer of the Future Teachers at Ramapo Club, and a member of the Order of Omega Greek Leadership Honor Society.

Off campus, she has been a substitute teacher, and also worked as a teacher’s aide for children with special needs.  “My future goals are to make a difference in the lives of children every day,” she adds.

Katrina is from Old Bridge, NJ. She has a 3.1 GPA.

Saul Gondelman

Saul Gondelman of Oakland, NJ is a returning student seeking his elementary teaching certification.

He has a 3.58 GPA.  Saul has made the Dean’s List in both spring and fall 2016 semesters.  Saul is also a member of the Kappa Delta Pi, the teacher education honor society.

Stefanie Passman

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Stefanie Passman of Sayreville, N.J. is a social science major with a concentration in community mental health. She has a 3.5 grade point average.  She was inducted into Kappa Delta Pi, the International Honors Society in Education.

At Ramapo, Stefanie has been active in several organizations and activities, including Sigma Delta Tau and is also on the Judicial Board of the College PanHellenic.

Stefanie also has been involved in off –campus activities and organizations, such as volunteering at Pinebrook Nursing Home in Middlesex County.

Elissa D'Aries

Elissa D’Aries of Clifton, NJ is a Literature major who is pursuing certification in Elementary Education. Elissa said the scholarship is an opportunity to steady her financial prospects, and for opening her mind to achieve what she never thought possible. Her goal is to pursue her passion and to become financially stable while changing young people’s lives. Elissa has been a supplemental instructor for the College’s EOF program. She has gained valuable classroom experience through this program. She is a member of the Literature Club, Ramapo Readers, Plant Strong, 1Step and Global Roadrunners, among other campus activities. Elissa has a 3.92 grade point average.

Marisabel Rios

Marisabel Rios of Ellenville, NY is a Spanish major who is pursuing certification in elementary education. She is determined to become an educator because as a teaching assistant, she has dealt with the issues children face: hunger, poverty and fear of acceptance from peers and teachers. Marisabel is committed to encouraging each child so they believe they can become the best they can. Marisabel graduated from a community college and now at Ramapo, she is a member of the Spanish Club and Sigma Delta Pi, the Spanish National Honor Society. A wife, mother and student, she is grateful for the support of her husband and the scholarship so that she can pursue her aspirations. Marisabel has a 3.11 grade point average.

Amanda Skuriat

Amanda Skuriat of Linden, NJ is an Engineering Physics major who is pursuing Teacher Education
certification. Amanda believes the greatest challenge facing college graduates is standing out among the competition. “The workplace is all about ‘value-add.’ Being knowledgeable in content area is no longer sufficient to guarantee success,” she said. She has learned how to be adaptable and keep an open mind while integrating knowledge from multiple academic fields. She is a student aide and Executive Board liaison for the Honors Program and a Physics lab research assistant. Amanda also serves as the Community Service Projects coordinator for the Honors Program, secretary for the Physics Club and is active in Leaders in Service. Amanda has a 3.84 grade point average.

I am extremely grateful that I received this scholarship. It will allow me to pursue my dreams of becoming a Physics teacher and share my love of learning with my future students.

Caitlyn Ferreira

Caitlyn Ferreira of Lodi, NJ is a Psychology major who is seeking certification in Elementary Education. She has earned a 3.48 grade point average. “I’ve always had a strong need to help others,” says the senior. Caitlyn has been a volunteer for Pony PowerTherapies, Operation Smile, Relay for Life and Shelter Our Sisters, among others. On campus, she serves as vice president and chair of the Standards Board for Theta Phi Alpha and is a member of the Psychology Coalition. She works part-time at a preschool and as a babysitter. Caitlyn says receiving the scholarship is a way “to reach a goal that I have set for myself since elementary school.”

Caitlin McGee

Senior Caitlin McGee is from Wayne, NJ. Caitlin is majoring in American Studies with a minor in Psychology. She is pursuing teacher certification in elementary education. Her grade point average is 3.60. Caitlin is a member of Ramapo Feminists United, the Yoga Club and the Outdoor Club. She works off campus and participates in a number of volunteer activities on campus including a Thanksgiving food drive, campus clean up, and “Take Back The Night” in support of Violence Awareness Week. “After graduation I plan to enroll in graduate school to earn my Special Education Certification and eventually my master’s in School Counseling and Counseling Psychology,” Caitlin says.

This scholarship will help me pursue my dreams as a future educator. I am very grateful to the donors for this gift.

Brielle Crowe

Brielle Crowe is a sophomore psychology major from Hawthorne, New Jersey who plans to teach at the elementary level. She earned a 3.76 grade point average and has been named to the Dean’s List every semester. Brielle has volunteered in several children’s education programs, and is also active in Future Educators of America, Ramapo’s First Year Experience, the freshman caucus, and the Student Government Association. She is a member of the Dance Club and the Psychology Coalition.