RAMAPO MAGAZINE
Spring 2001  •   Volume 2, Issue 1
 Oak Hall
In this Issue

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
 
Photo Avon Scholarship Recipients
Moms at Ramapo can attend class and study, knowing their children are safe and happily learning, too, at the Child Development Center. Pictured are Avon Scholarship recipients (l. to r.): Marlyn Ruiz, Susanne Jardinella, May McDermott, and their children (l. to r.) Vanessa Maria Ruiz and Fiona McDermott. Elizabeth Jardinella was napping.

Scholarships and Grants – Making a Difference in Education

External scholarships and grants—those generously provided by donors to Ramapo College—often make the difference to individual students who might not achieve their goals of a diploma, a degree, and a better life without this financial assistance. In each issue of Ramapo Magazine, we try to highlight just a few of the benefactors who make the education of our hard-working students and the programs of our dedicated faculty possible. Join us as we look at a few outstanding scholarships and grants—and the smiling faces that go along with this commitment to Ramapo College’s quest for academic excellence.

  • The Walter and Louise Sutcliffe Foundation, a donor new to the College, provided $20,000 in scholarships for nursing students.
  • The Edward and Stella Van Houten Memorial Trust increased its funding for nursing scholarships to $20,000 from $15,000 last year. These awards recognize Ramapo nursing students who are interested in the care of the elderly, children, or the disabled.
  • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funded $24,000 for the “Lead Safe Schools” project. Ramapo’s teacher education program and Rutgers will jointly create materials educating school administrators about the hazards of lead and how to remediate them.
  • For the third year, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation has funded the work of the New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability (NJHEPS) with a $125,000 grant, which is based on the Ramapo College campus. NJHEP’s mission is to have member college campuses across the state be models for sustainable practices in purchasing, building, and consumption.
  • The Bernice Barbour Foundation provided $23,600 for “Food for Thought.” Under the guidance of Professor Rena Bacon, Ph.D., Ramapo graduate student Darryl Harris will be using chicken anatomy to design a CD-ROM and Web page to augment the high school biology curriculum. This technology of virtual dissection will be used as a teaching tool in the College’s Master of Science in Educational Technology (MSET) program and at high schools nationwide.
  • The Avon Products Foundation increased its gift to the College in support of scholarships for female undergraduates with children enrolled in the on-campus Child Development Center (CDC). Avon’s $2,000 gift will help cover CDC tuition costs for Ramapo students.
  • For over twenty years the Office of Specialized Services has received substantial funding from the U.S. Department of Education TRIO program. The most recent award provided over $2 million per year to allow OSS staff to enhance academic, career, and independent living programs for Ramapo students with disabilities.
  • The BD (Becton Dickinson) Minority Scholars Project at Ramapo is a three-year, $300,000 commitment to continue the steady gains at Ramapo to recruit, enroll, retain, and graduate minority students. Many of the student scholars who benefit from these scholarships and grants were on hand at the April 3 Scholarship Reception hosted by the Office of the President. This special evening allowed students to meet their benefactors in a social event that honors both the dedication of the students and the commitment of the donors.

Photo BD Ramapo students received their BD (Becton Dickinson) sweatshirts and joined the BD family of scholars. Pictured are: (l. to r. on stairs) Benjamin Barrios, sophomore, computer science; Auslin Williams, sophomore, communications TV/Theater; Ryan Guerrero, sophomore, graphic design; and Michaiah Dominguez, freshman; (l. to r. in front of stairs): Melinda Andrew, freshman, international business/political science; April Almendras, sophomore, public communications; Alaide Zavala, sophomore, international studies/political science; and Julaina Toala, freshman.

In this Issue