Sophia Kopreski

Sophia Kopreski of Vineland, N.J. is a sophomore Political Science major with a minor in Public Policy. An Honors student, she holds a 3.97 GPA and has been awarded Dean’s List every semester.

At Ramapo, she has been active in the Student Government Association and Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity where she has held cabinet-level and chair positions. She also works as a Peer Consultant at the Center for Reading and Writing. While at Ramapo, she aspires to make more positive changes on campus and inspire those around her to do the same.

In the future, Sophia hopes to enter a career in Public Service as a lawyer or governmental policy-maker.

Alyssa Jackler

​​Alyssa Jackler of Hawthorne, N.J. is a Social Work major and a Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies minor. She has a 3.9 GPA, and she has made the Dean’s List every semester. She is planning on completing her MSW within one year and working with the LGBTQ+ community.

Alyssa is a proud member of the Social Work Club, working to improve the lives of others both on and off campus, by engaging in informational seminars, bake sales, and other influential events. She is also an assistant manager at the Hawthorne Movie Theater, where she implements new strategies and builds meaningful connections with customers and staff.

Ashley Gomez

Ashley Gomez is a junior Law and Society major with a Human Rights and Genocide minor. She is a proud first generation college student with a 3.73 GPA and has made the Dean’s List several times. 

Ashley has been a Resident Assistant since her sophomore year and is a second year returning Peer Facilitator. Additionally, she is a member of Black Student Union and is the School of SSHS School Senator for the Student Government Association. She is also the Recruitment Chair for Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. 

After graduating from Ramapo, Ashley hopes to attend law school and eventually become an immigration attorney.

Prabal Chhatkuli

Prabal Chhatkuli of Kathmandu, Nepal is a Computer Science major with minors in Mathematics and Bioinformatics. He has a 3.9 GPA and has been on the Dean’s List every semester. 

Prabal is the current President of the Computer and Technology Club. He works as a Student Manager for CSI Design, where he develops posters, logos and other graphic materials for organizations on campus. He is also in the Honors Program, the South Asians Club, the International Student Organization.

Off campus, Prabal volunteers with Teaneck Tutoring and MEVO. In his free time, he enjoys developing applications and working on creative projects.

Prabal plans on attending graduate school for Data Science and Public Policy.

Cameron James Ameye

Cameron James Ameye is from Bloomingdale, N.J. and is a Social Work major.  He plans to pursue a master’s degree in Social Work and hopes to work in a school district or college setting.  “I want to work with disabled students and help them by trying to put myself in their shoes.”

Cameron is involved with WIN (Wellness is Now) to raise awareness of different disabilities that students have on campus.

Aditya Anand

Aditya “Eddie” Anand of Fords, N.J. is a Political Science major with minors in Public Policy and International Studies. He has a 3.5 GPA.

Eddie has been active in several organizations at Ramapo including the Student Government Association, South Asian Club and Building Tomorrow.  While working with the Student Government Association, Eddie has focused on helping Ramapo students adapt and integrate better into the Ramapo community.  With the South Asian Club, he has been focused on increasing the knowledge of South Asian cultures within the Ramapo student body through cultural events.

Eddie has also been a team supervisor for the New York Jets Bump 50/50; this team focuses on raising money for several different charities during Jets Home games.  In 8 games, Eddie has raised over $16,000 for different charities. Eddie has also worked as a supervisor for a construction company doing renovations in a Veterans Hospital in New York.

Meredith Butler

Meredith Butler of Pawtucket, R.I. is a Business Administration major with a double concentration in Management and Finance.  She has a 3.87 GPA. She is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Golden Key International Honour Society, and has been on the Dean’s List for the past four semesters.

Meredith is a captain on the Women’s Track and Field Team at Ramapo, and a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council.  She is the Parliamentarian of her sorority, as well as a member of the Academic Excellence Committee and Standards Board.

“I’m interning at Cambridge Medical Funding Group in Glen Rock, N.J. which I hope will prepare me for a career in the business world.”

Abdurrahman Padela

Abdurrahman Padela of Edison, NJ is a sophomore majoring in Biology. He has earned a 3.8 GPA.

“I am an active member of the Muslim Students’ Association, a faith based club that helps organize social events and prayers around campus,” says Abdurrahman. When he is not intensely focusing on a digital textbook on his computer screen or completing a myriad of assignments, Abdurrahman likes to explore and learn about the field of medicine, and give back to the community. He volunteers at a hospital and medical center where he is known among the staff as the “energetic young man who is always smiling.” His quick wit and self-deprecating humor lighten the mood for those around him.

Abdurrahman also volunteers as an assistant teacher at his local Sunday school with the hope of inspiring students to apply themselves. In addition to his current responsibilities, Abdurrahman works part time as a math tutor.  “Math is a subject I once had difficulty with, but now I teach students with simple-to-understand explanations,” he adds.

Abdurrahman wants to pursue a career in medicine and provide exceptional care to others.

Lauren Schmidt

Lauren Schmidt of Emerson, NJ is a Biology major and a member of the teacher certification program. She has a 3.941 GPA. Lauren was inducted into Beta Beta Beta, Kappa Delta Pi, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Golden Key International Honor Society.

Lauren has been involved in the Ramapo College Honors Program, the Ramapo Chorale, and the Music Club,  She is also a valued lab assistant in the Biology department.  In addition, through Leaders in Service, she has helped incoming freshmen transition to college life and worked with peers on local civic engagement projects.

Lauren interned at the Meadowlands Environment Center in Lyndhurst, NJ and worked as a Summer Teaching Fellow at North Star Academy College Preparatory High School in Newark, NJ. She currently works as a Campus Ambassador for Uncommon Schools.  In the fall 2016, she will be teaching 9th grade biology at North Star Academy.

“I believe the best way to promote stewardship of the environment is through education and appreciation.”

Pamela Gilligan

Pamela Gilligan of Branchburg, N.J. is an environmental studies major.

She has a 3.8 grade point average.  Pamela was inducted into the Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society for First-Year Students.

At Ramapo, Pamela has been active in several organizations and activities, including the Ramapo Yoga Club and 1STEP.

Off campus, Pamela has served as the volunteer farm crew leader for MEVO (Mahwah Environmental Volunteers Organization) and with Somerset County 4-H.

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Julia Hughes

Julia Hughes of Glen Rock, N.J., is a social work major.

Off campus, Julia has worked as an Apple store specialist for almost five years.

Julia is proud to have paid for five international trips without assistance.

Brittany Ryan

Brittany Ryan is a senior majoring in Environmental Studies. Her minor is Public Policy, and she has earned a 3.86 grade point average. She participated in a student exchange at the University of Hilo last semester, and last year assisted in constructing the Saltbox Environmental Research Center in Torne Valley, NJ as part of her Environmental Seminar class. Brittany plans to continue her education and ultimately earn a Ph.D. in Environmental Policy. “Through the advancement of my education I feel I can impact society,” she says. “I long for environmental and social justice, the kind of justice that is brought about when the Earth and its people are treated fairly.”

Making decisions to continue my education was hindered by financial hardships, and scholarships such as the Mazur Scholarship make pursuing graduate studies that much more attainable.

Lina Damrah

Biology major Lina Damrah is in her junior year. Her minor is Psychology and she has earned a 3.88 grade point average. Lina is involved on campus in Relay for Life, the Dance Marathon, and as a volunteer at The Valley Hospital and a local senior citizens home. She is a community assistant in the College Park Apartments, and was inducted into the Alpha Lambda Delta and Chi Alpha Epsilon honor societies. She is a member of the Muslim Student Association. “My future dream,” she says, “is to pursue a career in medicine.” Lina is from Garfield, NJ.

Frank Nitti III

Frank Nitti III of Flanders, NJ is a Political Science Major and an East Asian Studies minor with a 3.58 grade point average. He is learning Mandarin Chinese because “it is a targeted language by the international and Unites States intelligence organizations that I look to apply to.” He works as an assistant program manager for the NJ Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability. He facilitated a campus-wide ink cartridge recycling program and compiled inventory for an inter-office excess supply swap. In addition, Frank took part in a carry out trash pick up event at the Ramapo Reservation and a beach sweep clean up. He is president of StudentsTogether for Environmental Progress, community service chair and head delegate for the Model United Nations program and is a member of Colleges Against Cancer, the Literature Club and Political Forum.

Kyle Ulscht

Kyle Ulscht of Waldwick, NJ is a Law and Society major with a minor in Economics. He prides himself on never having missed a day of school since the sixth grade and has never been late. And, he has maintained a 4.0 grade point average throughout college. He also is proud that he has overcome the obstacles of a learning disability. He is interested in constitutional and corporate law. Kyle wants to earn a bachelor’s degree in three years and then attend law school. He enjoys “looking at the faults ingrained in the Constitution during its inception” and interpreting the Constitution’s meaning in today’s world. He established Ramapo’s chapter of the Golden Key International Honour Society and serves as president. He is a member of Phi Alpha Delta, the law fraternity.

Boris Glazman

Boris Glazman is from New Milford, New Jersey and is a senior majoring in international studies at Ramapo. During the summer of 2008 Boris worked in the office of State Senator Loretta Weinberg, and for the New Milford Board of Education. Boris has earned a 3.76 grade point average. “I want to obtain a graduate degree in international relations, then pursue a career in law enforcement at either the local or federal level,” Boris says.

This scholarship will continue to inspire my academic pursuits.