Hadassah Nuhu

Hadassah Nuhu, originally from Nigeria, now of Paramus, N.J., is a Social Science major with a concentration in Education, and she is also working towards her Master’s in Special Education. She has a 3.860 GPA.

As a mother and a student, and despite her full plate, Hadassah has a strong desire to volunteer—whether at her son’s school or with emergency services in her community. She hopes that, as her son grows older and her schedule becomes more manageable, she will be able to give back and serve the community in the way she’s always wanted to.

Hadassah is passionate about making a difference, and she looks forward to the day when she can fully dedicate herself to helping others, just as she’s received support along her own journey.

Nahomie Cyprien

Nahomie Cyprien of Mahwah, NJ, previously of Spring Valley, NY, is an MSW major. She has a GPA of 3.678

At Ramapo, Nahomie has yet to be active. However, she is involved in off-campus activities. At her local community church in Spring Valley, Nahomie, for several years, has served in the children’s department as one of the coordinators of the church’s adventurers club (similar to a Girls Scoot club), helping coordinate and supervise program activities.

Nahomie also recently became a member of the women’s department of her church. She was selected to be part of a panelist for this past 2024 Women’s Day event at her local church, where the topic of discussion was “the effect of prayer on our mental health.”

While at Ramapo, Nahomie has raised and maintained her GPA from 2:5 to 3.6 and above despite her daily struggles as a mother, wife, full-time employee, and intern. For the future, she aspires to be the change she wants to see in the world through her work and work on fulfilling her passion of becoming an author.

Nahomie Cyprien

Nahomie Cyprien of Mahwah, NJ, previously of Spring Valley, NY, is an MSW major. She has a GPA of 3.678

At Ramapo, Nahomie has yet to be active. However, she is involved in off-campus activities. At her local community church in Spring Valley, Nahomie, for several years, has served in the children’s department as one of the coordinators of the church’s adventurers club (similar to a Girls Scoot club), helping coordinate and supervise program activities.

Nahomie also recently became a member of the women’s department of her church. She was selected to be part of a panelist for this past 2024 Women’s Day event at her local church, where the topic of discussion was “the effect of prayer on our mental health.”

While at Ramapo, Nahomie has raised and maintained her GPA from 2:5 to 3.6 and above despite her daily struggles as a mother, wife, full-time employee, and intern. For the future, she aspires to be the change she wants to see in the world through her work and work on fulfilling her passion of becoming an author.

Nahomie Cyprien

Nahomie Cyprien of Mahwah, N.J. is a Master’s of Social Work major with a 3.678 GPA.

Off-campus, she is active at her community church in Spring Valley, N.J. She has served in the Children’s Department as one of the Coordinators of the church’s Adventurers Club (similar to the Girl’s Scouts), helping coordinate and supervise program activities.

Nahomie also recently became a member of the Women’s Department of her church. She was selected to be a panelist for this past 2024 Women’s Day event, where the topic of discussion was “the effect of prayer on our mental health.”

While at Ramapo, she has raised and maintained her GPA from 2.5 to 3.6 despite her daily struggles as a mother, wife, full-time employee, and intern.

In the future, Nahomie aspires to make a change in the world through her work and to fulfill her dream of becoming an author.

Anonymous

The recipient of this scholarship wishes to remain anonymous.

Paola Guevara

Paola M. Guevara of West Milford, N.J. Social Work major with a 4.0 GPA.

At Ramapo, Paola has been active in several organizations and activities, including the Social Work Club, founder of the Non-Traditional Students Support Group at Ramapo College. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, Phi Alpha (Theta Delta Chapter) and Tau Sigma Transfer Honor society. Additionally, her awards during her academic achievement are being part of the Dean’s List two consecutive semesters and Academic Achievement for Social Work. 

Off –campus activities and organizations, including volunteering as a student advocate at the Violence Intervention Prevention Center at Bergen Community College, providing education and resources for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. Additionally, she is currently interning at Bergen Family Center (BFC) in Englewood, involved in many community projects.

Anonymous

The recipient of this award would like to remain anonymous.

Nadirah Payne

“Everyone deserves equal and quality care,” says transfer student Nadirah Payne, a senior Nursing major with a 3.6 GPA. After graduation, her goal is to work with underserved populations to provide the medical care they need. 

Nadirah has volunteered in rural communities of Honduras, providing medical and public health care for the locals. She currently works at a community hospital in Newark, N.J. 

“I feel so lucky to be at Ramapo,” says Nadirah, expressing her gratitude for small class sizes and the ability to develop valuable relationships on campus.

Zurine Cadena Jimenez

Zurine Cadena Jimenez, of Mount Arlington, N.J. is an International Studies major with a minor in Human Rights and Genocide Studies.  She has a 3.96 GPA and is a member of Sigma Iota Rho.  Zurine plans to enroll in a Master’s program in Human Rights Studies at Columbia University.  Upon completion, she aspires to obtain a position at UNICEF to work with regional and country offices that are engaged in advancing the early childhood education sector in developing countries.

In the summer of 2018, Zurine completed an internship with the director’s office of the Office of Innovation at UNICEF.  Through this experience she was able to take part in quarterly progress meetings pertaining to scaling of regional as well as country infrastructure projects such as healthcare and water access through the use of various technologies.  She also represented the School of Humanities and Global Studies at COPLAC’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Conference.

Her life goal is to compose a peace education curriculum, emphasizing tolerance and equality that she hopes will be utilized in the process of intra/interstate conflict resolution.  She also hopes to extend her research on the Colombian civil conflict and 2016 peace accord as well as partake in campaigns working towards the elimination of FGM and child marriage.

Additionally, Zurine has an Associate degree in both Studio Art and International Studies.  She is currently a preschool teacher for Kindercare Learning Centers.  In her free time, she engages in working on art pieces and in writing poetry.  Her poems have been published in the literary magazines Driftwood and the Promethean. She has also been featured as Reward Publishing’s Poet of the Month.

Zurine Cadena Jimenez

Zurine Cadena Jimenez of Mount Arlington, N.J. is an International Studies major with a minor in Human Rights and Genocide Studies. She has a 3.96 GPA and is a member of Sigma Iota Rho.

Upon completing her Master’s Degree in Human Rights Studies at Columbia University, she aspires to obtain a position at UNICEF, in which she’ll work with regional and country offices to advance the early childhood education sectors in developing countries. “My life goal is to compose a peace education curriculum, emphasizing tolerance and equality.” She also hopes to extend her research on the Colombian civil conflict and 2016 peace accord, as well as partake in campaigns working towards the elimination of FGM and child marriage.

Additionally, Zurine has Associate degrees in both Studio Art and International Studies. She is currently a preschool teacher for Kindercare Learning Centers, and in her free time, she works on art pieces and writes poetry.

Paula Lecky-Smith

For Paula Lecky-Smith, obtaining a bachelor’s degree was a dream. She graduated high school thirty-four years ago with the aspiration of pursuing a college degree, but faced a few detours along the way. Today, she is realizing that dream as a senior in the Adult Degree Completion program, completing a Bachelor of Science Degree with a concentration in Social Justice. “When I graduate in August 2018, I will be the second person in my family, (first and second generation) to receive a college degree.” Paula hopes this achievement will be an inspiration to her younger siblings and their children.  

For the past twenty-four years she has worked with the aging adult population in restorative and palliative care. “I am dedicated to service and committed to enhancing the quality of life for others.” She hopes to continue her studies in social work or public health, and help provide support for the aging population and their caregivers.

Throughout her college tenure Paula’s academic achievements and GPA have earned her placement on the Dean’s List, as well as several honor societies.

Melissa Dweck

Melissa Dweck of Long Branch, NJ is a Social Science major with a concentration in community mental health and a double minor in Biology and Psychology. She has a 3.94 GPA.

She was on the Dean’s list for her entire first year of Ramapo and was invited into the Golden Key National Honor Society. She was also awarded valedictorian of both her middle school and high school classes. At Ramapo, Melissa has been active in several organizations and activities, including the Hillel Club. She participated in an organization called Sharsheret, to spread awareness for breast cancer. Melissa also volunteers at the community center in her home town.

After college, she plans to go on to graduate school and pursue a Doctor in Physical Therapy degree.

MaryKate Kubler

MaryKate Kubler of Hackensack, NJ is a Biology major with a 3.96 GPA.  She was inducted into the Golden Key International Honor Society and is a member of the pre-med and biology club.

MaryKate has been a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for over three years and currently works as an athletic trainer student aide at Ramapo. She has shadowed physician assistants in gastroenterology, neonatal care and flight medicine. She also shadowed a trauma surgeon and completed an International Trauma Life Support course for EMTs. Her goal is to become a physician assistant and work in a trauma center.

Sumiyo Dohi

Sumiyo Dohi of Tenafly, N.J. is an accounting major. She has a 3.74 grade point average.

Sumiyo has been working as a bookkeeper in Hillburn, N.Y.

Also, she has been serving as a volunteer with the Tenafly Japanese community in Bergen County.

Andrea Persaud

Andrea Persaud of Hillburn, NY is a Social Science major with a concentration in Justice.  This program is offered through the College’s Degree Completion Program for returning adult students.  Andrea has earned a 3.8 grade point average.

Susan Vanino

“This award has changed my life, and allowed me to pursue my dreams,” said Susan Vanino who graduated with a degree in Social Work in 2013. “While it was challenging to return to college as a non-traditional student, as a person with a significant disability, I was motivated during my undergraduate studies by my goal to eventually earn a MSW. Last spring, as graduationneared, my plans for graduate school became overshadowed by looming worries of mounting student debt. Being selected for this award not only provided financial support towards graduate studies, it gave me the confidence to move forward,” she said. Susan began the Advanced Standing Program at New York University’s Silver School of Social Work last fall and will graduate in May. She is completing a year-long internship at Comprehensive Behavioral Health Care in Hackensack. She plans to work in an agency setting, where I can assist people with disabilities in realizing their full potential. “I will be forever grateful to Carol Schaefer for making the Carol Schaefer Human Services/Shepherd Foundation Award possible, and to those at Ramapo College who encouraged me to apply for this remarkable award,” Susan said.

Maria Molina

Maria Molina is enrolled in a graduate program at New York University.

Jessica Stone

“I love the field of community mental health, and am ready to embark on my journey to help people with mental illness,” says Jessica Stone. The senior is majoring in Social Science and has earned a 3.81 grade point average. Jessica has been an intern at Fort Monmouth, Sage Day School and P.S. 28 in Paterson. On campus she serves as a Judicial Board student representative and is a member of the RASCALS Comedy Club and the Democratic Club, where she is the associate director of youth outreach. She has volunteered at the Center for Food Action and for the Cahill Center’s “Adopt A Soldier” project. Jessica is from Tinton Falls, NJ.

This scholarship has motivated me to achieve any goal I choose. I feel empowered to set my mind to anything.

Jonelyn Rae Planillo

Jonelyn Rae Planillo is from New Milford, New Jersey and is majoring in accounting with a minor in music. She is in her senior year and has earned a 3.89 grade point average. Jonelyn is a senator in the Student Government Association, a student representative to the Diversity Action Committee, and senior advisor for the Filipino American Student Association. She is a member of College Democrats and Take the Lead, the ballroom dancing club. She works at the Animal Clinic of New York, and last summer was an audit intern at an accounting firm in Edison, New Jersey. In the summer of 2007 Jonelyn was an intern for a Chief Strategy Officer at the United States Mint in Washington, D.C.