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Teddy Halpern Endowed Scholarship

Teodoro (Teddy) Halpern joined the Ramapo faculty in 1974. He served the College as a professor of physics, director and dean of the School of Theoretical and Applied Science, dean of schools and vice president for Academic Affairs. His colorful, enthusiastic lectures made him a much-loved professor and inspiration to his colleagues.

When he retired in 2001, fellow faculty members, family and friends gathered to honor Dr. Halpern. Contributions from the event, called “Teddyfest!” created this scholarship fund named in Dr. Halpern’s honor. In 2010 Dr. Halpern permanently endowed the program through a planned gift. The Halpern award recognizes outstanding students in physics.

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2024 Recipient

Emily Markuske

Emily Markuske of Leonia, N.J. is an Engineering Physics major and has maintained a 3.5 GPA.

At Ramapo, Emily is a member of the Engineering Physics Club, Esports Athletic Club, where she is a member of one of the teams, and UAA (United Asian Association), where she regularly attends events and meetings whenever she can.

Emily has also been involved in off campus activities, such as being a swim instructor and a lifeguard at Spring Lake Day Camp over the summer.

After graduation, Emily intends to attend graduate school to further her studies as an Engineering Physics major.


2022 Recipient

Sean Kondra

Sean Kondra of Mount Arlington N.J. is an Engineering/Physics major. He has a 3.7 GPA and is in the Engineering Honors Society, which was nationally recognized by the American Physics Organization in 2020. At Ramapo, Sean has been active in several organizations and activities, including the Physics Club, and is a tutor for the physics department where he helps undergrads in comprehending college level physics concepts. Sean has also been involved in off-campus activities and organizations including the fraternity of Alpha Sigma Phi where he has held positions like the Vice President of community service, the Vice President of philanthropy, and the Vice President of Recruitment. 

Sean says, “An accomplishment that I am proud of is continuously being able to improve my grades and from that, being inducted into the engineering honors society. I am a very hard worker and pride myself on my work ethic. After graduation, I aim to seek employment into a civil engineering firm and work up the ladder with my skills and devotion.”



2021 Recipient

Tenzin Sherpa

Tenzin Sherpa of Kathmandu, Nepal is an Engineering Physics major. She has a 3.9 GPA and consistently makes the Dean’s List.

At Ramapo, Tenzin has been active in several organizations and activities, including the Center for Reading and Writing, the Physics Club, and the International Student Organization.

Off-campus, she is involved with the Math Adventure and Wordplay program to help children with math and reading skills.

After graduation, Tenzin hopes to attend graduate school to further her studies in physics.


2020 Recipient

Luke Connell

“I’ve always had a passion for Physics and Natural Sciences. I intend to combine this with my passion for helping others by becoming a Medical Physicist,” says Luke Connell of Closter, N.J. Luke is an Engineering Physics major and has a GPA of 3.5.

At Ramapo, Luke has served as Student Assistant Residence Director of a first-year residence hall on campus, as well as an Admissions Ambassador, dedicated to telling prospective students everything Ramapo has to offer. He has also worked as a head coach for a summer league dive team.



2019 Recipient

Daniel Tafone


2018 Recipient

Lindsey Gray

Lindsey Gray of Dumont, N.J. is an Engineering Physics major with a minor in Mathematics.  She has a 3.63 GPA.  She is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, Sigma Xi, and the College Honors Program.

At Ramapo, Lindsey helped in the foundation of the Females in STEM Society and now serves as president.  She is also the president of the Engineering Physics Club and secretary of the Bass Fishing Team.

Lindsey has also been involved in tutoring, working at Le Gourmet Factory, and conducting research at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and the Department of Homeland Security.



2017 Recipient

Alexander Clark

Alexander Clark of Pompton Lakes, NJ is an Engineering Physics major with a double minor in Visuals Arts and Mathematics. He has a 3.59 GPA.  He is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society.

Alexander is President of the Engineering Physics Club on campus and a member of Females in S.T.E.M.

Alexander has also been involved in off-campus activities and organizations, including Additive Manufacturing research at New Jersey Institute of Technology. Post-graduation Alex plans on pursuing a PhD in Material Science and Engineering.



2016 Recipient

Kamil Nowak

Kamil Nowak is a senior from Wallington, NJ majoring in Engineering Physics.


2015 Recipient

Nathaniel Birrer

Nathaniel Birrer of Succasunna, N.J., is an engineering physics major and carries two minors, computer science and mathematics. He has a 4.0 grade point average.
At Ramapo, Nathaniel is president of the Math Club and is a computer science tutor.
Nathaniel plans to attend graduate school and would like to work in the aerospace industry developing new equipment for space exploration.



2014 Recipient

Jillian Hauck

Jillian Hauck of Stanhope, NJ is a Engineering Physics major. She helped develop and test the lab manual for Ramapo College’s Experimental Research Methods course. During the summer of 2013, she was selected as a physics intern at New Jersey Institute of Technology. A senior, Jillian has earned a 3.58 grade point average. She plans to attend graduate school and study Medical Physics next year.



2013 Recipient

Constantino Stavrou

“Constantino Stavrou works as a volunteer setting up labs and tutoring students in our introductory physics courses,” says professor Phil Anderson. Constantino is majoring in Engineering Physics and is a senior. He is from Emerson, NJ.


2012 Recipient

Kevin Thomas

Kevin Thomas is majoring in Engineering Physics. He is a senior from Ringoes, NJ. In recommending him for the Halpern Award the faculty wrote, “Kevin has put in countless hours tutoring students in Fundamentals in Physics and Physics with Calculus. This is a major effort which reflects his positive attitude and selflessness.”

This scholarship will help me because I want to be a teacher and I got this by tutoring Physics.


2011 Recipient

Tim Cohen

“Senior Tim Cohen has made significant contributions to the engineering Physics group and to the School of Theoretical and Applied Science,” says Professor of Physics Phil Anderson. “He has spent a great deal of time guiding and tutoring students in Fundamentals of Physics and Physics with Calculus, helping with difficult homework problems. He has also been a great help to the program in general by maintaining the lab.” Tim also has served as the student government representative to TAS. He is majoring in Engineering Physics, with a minor in Mathematics. Tim has earned a 3.63 grade point average. He is from Avenel, NJ.


2010 Recipients

Sean DeGennaro

Sean DeGennaro, an Engineering Physics major from Newton, NJ has an impressive array of accomplishments, including completing an internship at Duke University. He works alongside faculty to conduct laboratory research, and is an enthusiastic role model for other students. Sean was deemed by Professor of Physics Daniela Buna as one of the best presidents the Physics Club has had. He is minoring in Mathematics and has earned a 3.78 grade point average.

The scholarship has made graduate school a reality for me. Without it, I would have never been able to afford this next great step in my future.

Maxwell Wolfinger

Maxwell Wolfinger of Farmingdale, NJ is an Engineering Physics major who has distinguished himself as a top student. His professors concur that he has “great intellectual potential” and is a “gifted experimentalist.” Maxwell, who has a 3.52 grade point average, has dedicated a significant amount of time helping in the science laboratories. He also completed a successful summer internship at New Jersey Institute of Technology and continues to work at NJIT doing undergraduate and graduate research in Physics.

This scholarship has given me confidence as I enter graduate school in the fall to pursue a Ph.D.


2009 Recipient

Matthew Alden Earle

Matthew Alden Earle is a senior from Greenwood Lake, New Jersey. He is majoring in physics and has earned a 3.65 grade point average. He received the American Physics Society award for best teaching assistant in 2008. “Matthew is an extremely hard-working and dedicated physics major who has proved to be an excellent research assistant to the faculty, and teaching assistant to his peers,” says professor Daniela Buna, convener of physics.

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