Allan Jay Baum III

Allan Jay Baum III of Kinnelon, N.J. is a senior Computer Science major with a minor in Biology. He has a 3.85 GPA and has been on the Dean’s List every semester save one since matriculating at Ramapo.

At Ramapo, Allan has served as the Vice President for the Math club for two consecutive years; Hiking Club, as a Treasurer, Pre-health club, as Treasurer and Vice President; and College Honors Program. He has also served as a peer tutor for the Computer Science department, doing his best to assist his fellow students with their introductory Computer Science coursework.

Allan has also volunteered at the Lincoln Park First Aid Squad, where he volunteers as an EMT. He also works at Cedar Crest in Pequannock, NJ, where he uses his EMT skills in the independent living facility’s Security department.

An active amateur radio operator since the age of 12, Allan maintains his membership with the Wayne Radio Amateur Radio Team, where he previously served as membership chair

Allan has recently been accepted into Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and looks forward to matriculating later this year.

Trisha Mehta

Trisha Mehta of Wayne, N.J. is a biology major with a concentration in pre-med and osteopathy. Her 3.9 GPA has earned her a spot on the Dean’s List every semester.

Trisha is president of the Naach club for South Asian dances, a peer tutor for biology, and has participated in social science research on campus under Dr. Leah Warner. 

In her free time, Trisha volunteers as an EMT for the Wayne First Aid Squad and manages her small business, The Fluffie Shop on Etsy, for which she hand makes and sells crochet plushies. 

Starting in July, Trisha will be attending Lake Erie School of Osteopathic Medicine. “I hope to become an emergency physician and do my best to continue making a positive impact on my community and in the lives of my patients,” she said.

Jackie Liu

Jackie Liu of Bloomfield, N.J. is a Biology major on the Pre-Physician Assistant track. “When I was a child working at my parents’ Chinese restaurant, I would accompany my father on deliveries to the local University Medical Center, where I decided I wanted to pursue a career in medicine,” says Jackie.

Since high school, she has dedicated her studies to becoming a pediatric physician assistant, immersing herself in the field by shadowing a PA and volunteering at an ambulance corp. She is also a Lieutenant at the Mahwah EMS. 

In her free time, Rachel is on the Executive Board of the Pre-med/Pre-health Club, a chemistry tutor for OSS, and a “Big Sister” for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern N.J.

Hannah McNaught

Hannah McNaught of Bayonne, N.J. is a senior Biology major on the Pre-Medical track. She has a 3.95 GPA and has made the Dean’s List every semester of her undergraduate career.

Hannah is Co-President of the Pre-Med/Pre-Health Club, a peer tutor for Statistics, and has participated in molecular biology research on campus under Professor Thomas Owen, PhD.

Hannah has also volunteered for Big Brothers Big Sisters and works as an Emergency Department Scribe at Hackensack University Medical Center. Hannah was also one of only twelve students to be selected for the 2019 Stewart F. Alexander Summer Internship Program at Pascack Valley Medical Center.

Mohamad Ballan

Mohamad Ballan of Wayne, N.J. is a Biology major with a Chemistry minor. He has a 3.9 GPA and has made the Dean’s List each semester since fall of 2015.

Mohamad is the President of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Club, Co-President of the Pre-Med/ Pre- Health Club, and Vice President of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

Off-campus, he volunteers as an emergency medical technician (EMT) and as a medical scribe in the Emergency Department at Good Samaritan Hospital. He also volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Sydney Kauffman

Sydney Kauffman of Manchester, N.J. is Biology major. She has a 3.989 GPA.  She has been awarded the Provost scholarship and has made Dean’s List every semester since fall of 2014.

As defensive anchor on the Ramapo women’s soccer team, Sydney started in all 15 games her junior year. When she’s not on the soccer field, she’s active in her role as the President of the Ramapo Pre-Med/ Pre- Health Club, and TAS Research Honors program. She recently represented Ramapo and presented her research at the annual American Society for Bone and Mineral Research conference in Denver.

She volunteers as a driver for Meals on Wheels, and spends her free time with her family and on the beach.

Starting in the fall, Sydney will be attending Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine. “I hope to become a reproductive endocrinologist and help those who cannot have children on their own become parents.”

Rich Apramian

“Medicine has helped to shape me into who I am today, and this scholarship will help me in my plan to continue service through medicine,” said Rich Apramian of Old Tappan, NJ.  Rich is a Biology major on the Pre-Medical Track with a minor in Criminology. He has a 3.68 GPA.  He is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Omicron Delta Kappa – the National Leadership Honor Society, and is in the Theoretical and Applied Science Research Honors Program.

At Ramapo, Rich has served in several roles in the Student Government Association, as well as President of the First Responders Club.  He is also the Secretary of the Biology Club.

Rich has also been involved in off–campus activities and organizations, including being a volunteer emergency medical technician (EMT), and Emergency Room Volunteer at Hackensack UMC at Pascack Valley. Rich just entered his second term serving as Lieutenant of his Volunteer Emergency Squad.

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.

Carolina Reyes

Carolina Reyes of Teaneck, N.J., is a biology major. She has a 3.55 grade point average. Carolina was inducted into the Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

At Ramapo, Courtney is a member of the Pre-medical/Pre-health Club Executive Board and Phi Delta Epsilon International Medical Fraternity. She is secretary of Commuter Affairs for the Student Government Association.
Carolina is proud of having worked in her family’s optical business since high school. She said it has given her the drive and desire to pursue her dream of attending optometry school.

Michelle Bakardjiev

Michelle Bakardjiev of Denville, NJ is a Biology major. Caring for her grandmother, who raised her, through her illness and watching the EMS team try to revive her compelled Michelle to pursue a medical career to help spare others the agony of watching someone die. To learn more about the medical field, she shadowed doctors, nurses and lab technicians at a pediatric medical practice. To gain more experience, she has earned a CNA and completed clinical hours in a nursing home. Michelle also joined a first aid squad. From this experience, she learned empathy, creativity and fast reflexes to stabilize a fish hook in an eye and to do mechanical breathing for an overdose patient. “From the general office to the emergency field, I found that solving current health issues and aiding humanity to better lives was the common factor in the medical world,” she said. Michelle is a member of the Pre-med Club and was inducted into The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and the Golden Key International Honor Society. She is also a Chemistry tutor on campus. “With hard work and perseverance I look forward to the honor of being a physician,” she said. Michelle has a 4.00 grade point average.

Thalia Lopez

Thalia Lopez of South Plainfield, NJ is a Nursing major and a Spanish minor. After the death of her aunt, Thalia realized she could be helpful to patients by studying to be a Nurse. She strove to make patients’ last days bearable when she visited the sick and elderly in hospitals and nursing homes with her parents. As a first generation college student, Thalia is proud of the scholarship support she has received. She is a member of the Nursing Student Organization, Alpha Lambda Delta and Delta Phi Epsilon. Thalia has participated in a number of fundraising events including Walk for a Cure for Diabetes, Dance Marathon, Restore the Shore, and Cystic Fibrosis. She is a volunteer tutor and active in a religious group. Thalia is a junior with a 3.95 grade point average.

This scholarship motivates me to keep trying no matter what difficulties I encounter.

Aimee George

Aimee George of New Milford, N.J., is a nursing major. She was inducted into the Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society. She has a 3.47 grade point average.
At Ramapo, Aimee is a member of the Nursing Student Organization. Off campus, she works as a patient care technician at Holy Name Hospital and conducts a South Asian a Capella group.
Aimee plans to use her experience with and knowledge about nursing to develop evidence-based alternatives for nursing practice.

I would like to sincerely thank the Mainardi Family for this gracious award. This scholarship has helped me, not only financially, but also as a form of encouragement to strive for my goals.

Hannah Morrow

Hannah Morrow of Kinnelon, NJ is a Biochemistry major. As a teenager she was diagnosed with a chronic disorder from which, she says “I emerged with more strength, determination and faith than I could ever imagine.” She entered the workforce after high school and earned an associate’s degree at a community college. Hannah has admiration for the physical therapists who helped her and plans on becoming one to help others. Hannah volunteers at an animal shelter, a hospital and works with children who have cerebral palsy. She a member of Ramapo’s Biology Club. Hannah is particularly proud of being the recipient of a scholarship awarded by the American Association of University Women.

Lauren Finaldi

Lauren Finaldi of West Milford, NJ is a Nursing major. As president of Phi Delta Epsilon, an international medical fraternity, she developed an educational lecture “Health Disparities Among Minority Populations,” presented at the College’s Health andWellness Fair. She is a member of the Nursing Student Organization and serves as a student representative on the Nursing Curriculum Revising Committee. Lauren completed a study abroad program to Sierra Leone,West Africa to reduce maternal and infant mortality and morbidity. Lauren, who has a 3.41 grade point average, says, “Ramapo has made me a social justice and patient care advocate.”

Lauren Finaldi

Lauren Finaldi of West Milford, NJ is a Nursing major. As president of Phi Delta Epsilon, an international medical fraternity, she developed an educational lecture “Health Disparities Among Minority Populations,” presented at the College’s Health andWellness Fair. She is a member of the Nursing Student Organization and serves as a student representative on the Nursing Curriculum Revising Committee. Lauren completed a study abroad program to Sierra Leone,West Africa to reduce maternal and infant mortality and morbidity. Lauren, who has a 3.41 grade point average, says, “Ramapo has made me a social justice and patient care advocate.”

Caring for marginalized individuals is at the core of why I decided to study nursing. The Elizabeth Mainardi Scholarship has been a wonderful validation of my efforts and has assisted me in achieving my goals.

Michael Bendett

“Scouting was my start to service and my realization that I always want to help the community as well as other people in need,” says Michael Bendett of Glen Rock, NJ. Michael is a senior majoring in Nursing and has earned a 3.68 grade point average. Michael is a volunteer with the Glen Rock Ambulance Corps. He works as an Emergency Department Technician at Chilton Hospital, and as the EMT and skills director at Camp Yaw Paw. Michael plans to earn a master’s degree in Nursing and work either as a nurse practitioner or certified registered nurse anesthetist.

Dottie David-Wilson

Dottie David-Wilson is a sophomore from Piscataway, New Jersey majoring in nursing with a 3.82 grade point average. Dottie was accepted into the Alpha Delta Lambda honor society and is a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority. Dottie plans to work in the field of pediatric oncology while studying for a master’s degree to become a nurse practitioner. Currently, Dottie works as a patient care tech at Somerset Medical Center, and volunteers for several health-related community projects.