Student Leadership Awards

Award for Outstanding Leadership (up to 20 leaders total may be selected for this award, approximately 4-5 per class year): This award is for students who demonstrate exceptional campus leadership. Awards will be selected by class year (First-Year Student, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior)  for RCNJ campus involvement, academics, and leadership.

Jerome Lee Memorial Award for Outstanding Leadership (up to 3 leaders will be selected for this award): The Jerome Lee Memorial Award for Outstanding Leadership is named in honor of the Director of the Student Center who died in 1995. Jerome Lee valued high ethical and moral standards and gladly extended his capacity for human love to all those with whom he came in contact. Applicants for the Jerome Lee Memorial Award should demonstrate in their work within the co-curriculum leadership through grace, human kindness, and the art of gentle persuasion—all traits which characterized Jerome’s work. To be eligible students must be seniors with a graduation application on file for May 2019, August 2019, or plan to graduate in January 2020.

The Pillars Award (up to 3 leaders will be selected for this award): This prestigious award honors those senior student leaders who have demonstrated over the course of their career at Ramapo College outstanding leadership, a strong commitment to the mission of the College, and dedication to fostering a positive and inclusive living and learning environment. The recipient should be considered by others to be the product and embodiment of the four Ramapo pillars of interdisciplinary curriculum, international education, intercultural understanding and experiential learning.  To be eligible students must be seniors with a graduation application on file for May 2019, August 2019, or plan to graduate in January 2020. The criteria for consideration are as follows:

• Outstanding contributions to the quality of campus life through sustained participation in co-curricular activities and/or programs.
• Improvements in the college community through initiation of services or programs which support the college’s mission and strategic plan.
• Distinctive service to the student body through exceptional performance in an established position, whereby the manner in which the duties of that office were discharged have a substantial impact on the quality of student life and campus climate.
• Performance, leadership, communication, and commitment that reflects the ideals of the four pillars of Ramapo which may be viewed here: https://www.ramapo.edu/about/mission/

Outstanding Leadership by a First-Year Student

Madison Alderton– Member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, President of FeminSTEM, Member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society & The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, & member of the Nursing Student Organization.

Alejandro Cepeda- Member of Men Achieving Success Together (MAST), The Roadrunner Financial Group, & Peer Advisor for the Educational Opportunity Fund Program (EOF)

Isaias Hernandez- Member of The Pre-Health Club, Yoga-Club, Cross Country/Track & Field team, & First Responders Club.

Stephanie Steiner-Otoo- Member of The Student Government Association as a Senator-At-Large & Public Safety Liaison, member of Feminists United and The Yoga Club, Diversity Peer Facilitator for the Office of Equity and Diversity, & a member of the Steering Committee for the Ramapo College Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Nitesh Parajuli- Member of the Student Government Association serving as a Senator- At- Large, member of The International Student Organization, Computer and Technology Club, & //hackRamapo, & The OrgSync Student Coordinator for the Center for Student Involvement.

Outstanding Leadership by a Sophomore Student

Hannah Arp- Resident Assistant in Bischoff hall, Vice President of Programming for Sigma Delta Tau Sorority, member of Chi Alpha Epsilon honor society, & a Peer Mentor.

Gabrielle Bok- Member of Student Government Association (SGA), a Resident Assistant, Student Research Assistant at Ramix Recordings, member of the Women’s Center staff and was a member of this year’s SAIL – Sophomores Advancing in Leadership Program.

Olivia Farr-Emmons- Resident Assistant, a student staff member in the Main Office of Residence Life, and as a member of this year’s SAIL – Sophomores Advancing In Leadership Program.

Brian Enriquez- Member of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Peer Advisor within the Center for Student Success, involved in the Project Lead with Passaic High School Program, the Interfraternity Council, and as a member of this year’s SAIL – Sophomores Advancing In Leadership Program, & a Peer Facilitator.

Juliana Florez- Peer Facilitator, Ramapo Admissions Student Ambassador (RASA), member of President’s Advisory Council (PAC) and Student Leaders Council, & was a member of this year’s SAIL – Sophomores Advancing In Leadership Program 

Ryan Greff- Member of Student Government Association (SGA) selected as the Alternate Student Governor, Anisfield School of Business Dean’s Advisory Council, member of Alpha Lambda Delta and Golden Key International honor societies, and the National Society of High School Scholars, Library Learning Commons Task Force, President’s Committee for Campus Sustainability, & was a member of this year’s SAIL – Sophomores Advancing In Leadership Program.

Stephan Lally- President of the Student Government Association (SGA), member of the Student Emergency Relief Committee, & attended the KNUST Ramapo Student Leader’s Trip to Ghana for two years and served this year as a student trip leader.

Outstanding Leadership by a Junior Student

Katie Coakley- Brother of Alpha Phi Omega fraternity, member of Ramapo Admissions Student Ambassadors, member of Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society, Ramapo College Field Hockey team, and the Nursing Student Organization.

Alejandrina De La Cruz- Treasurer for the Student Government Association (SGA), EOF Peer Mentor, participated in Sophomores Advancing in Leadership (SAIL), and the ASB Dean’s Student Advisory Council, member of several honor societies including Chi Alpha Sigma, Pi Mu Epsilon, Alpha Lambda Delta, and is a Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges recipient.

Achyut Gautam- Member of International Student Organization (ISO), Dean’s Advisory Council – ASB, Finance Club, Student Government Association (SGA), served as an Orientation Leader, & is a student staff member for the Civic & Community Engagement Center.

Christian Martinez- Member of The Student Government Association (SGA), President of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc., and as a Ramapo Admissions Student Ambassador (RASA).

Jaime Velazquez- Resident Assistant, member of the Student Government Association (SGA), EOF Advisory Council, founder and active member of the Student Relief Committee, student trip leader to KNUST in Ghana this year, and serves as an ASB Student Career Pathways Coordinator

Megan Quinlan- Peer Facilitator, Resident Assistant, Global Roadrunner, involved in the Sophomores Advancing in Leadership (SAIL) Program, Collegiate Field Hockey, member of Rho Alpha Sigma and Beta Gamma Sigma honor societies, and a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority

Outstanding Leadership by a Senior Student

Bridgette Buckalew- President of the Ramapo College Student Athlete Advisory Committee, a captain of the Women’s basketball team, Rama-THON: Club That Raises Money For Children Miracle Network, member of the Psi Chi, National Honor Society of Collegiate Scholars, Chi Alpha Sigma, Chi Alpha Epsilon, & Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Societies.& The Ramapo College Love Your Melon: Campus Club

Katrina Buczkowski- Leaders in Service (LIS) program, President of Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), member of Chi Alpha Sigma, Pi Mu Epsilon, & Alpha Lambda Delta honor societies. and as a Ramapo Admissions Student Ambassador (RASA).

Sarah Brown- Founding Treasurer of Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, Student Aide with the Ramapo Admissions Student Ambassador (RASA), member of the Women’s Cross Country team, Orientation Leader, and Senator and Student Governor for the Student Government Association (SGA)

Mehnaz Ladha- Global Roadrunners Ambassador, member of Lambda Pi Eta, Alpha Lambda Delta, Phi Beta Delta, Omicron Delta Kappa, Sigma Iota Rho, & Golden Key honor societies, member of the College Honors Program, and a Staff Writer for The Ramapo News.

Miyah Meadows- Co-Manager for the Civic and Community Engagement Center (CCEC), member of Beta Alpha Psi, Omicron Delta Kappa, & Alpha Lambda Delta honor societies,  member of the Alternative Break Program to Ghana, KPMG Mentor Program, & Ramapo Admissions Student Ambassador (RASA). 

Berlyann Rivera- Member of the Student Government Association serving as the Student Trustee for Ramapo College of New Jersey, Student Manger for The Women’s Center, member of Phi Alpha Delta Pre Law Fraternity, & a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority.

Michael Sulewski– Assistant Resident Director of the College Park Apartments, Student Assistant, President of Rho Alpha Sigma& Beta Beta Beta honor societies, member of Psi Chi, Alpha Lambda Delta, & National Society for Collegiate Scholars honor societies, & Teaching Assistant for Anatomy & Physiology II Lab.

Aina Yadav- Secretary of Sustainability for the Student Government Association (SGA), Peer Facilitator, TAS Dean’s Student Advisory Council, 1STEP, member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Beta Delta honor societies, & Yoga club

Christine Bednarz- Member of Creative Media Club, Student Athletic Advisory Committee, Lambda Pi Eta for Communications, Chi Alpha Sigma, Chi Alpha Epsilon, Alpha Lambda Delta, Golden Key, National Society of Collegiate Scholars honor societies, & Rock Climbing Club

 Jessica Drimones- Peer Facilitator, Member of the Reclaim My Math program, Academic Integrity Board, Ramapo College Dance Team, member of Kappa Delta Pi & Golden Key honor societies, and Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges recipient. 

Erin McKenna- Served within various positions in the Student Government Association including Senator-at-Large, Secretary of Delegate Affairs, Vice President, & President, Peer Facilitator, member of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, member of several honor societies including Order of Omega, Beta Gamma Sigma, AASCB, Phi Beta Delta, Golden Key, Alpha Lambda Delta, and National Society of Collegiate Scholars, & Global Roadrunners.

Rebecca Scairpon– Resident Assistant of the Village, Peer Facilitator,  SGA Sustainability Committee member, member of the Academic Integrity Board, of the Ramapo College track & Field/Cross Country team, served as Secretary of the Google Club, member of the Rho Alpha Sigma and Omicron Delta Kappa national honor societies, & a Student Connect Data Analyst

Stephen Geerlof– Secretary of Academic Affairs for the Student Government Association (SGA), Peer Facilitator program,  Beta Alpha Psi, Beta Gamma Sigma, Golden Key, and The National Society Of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS), former Student Trustee and Peer Facilitation Intern, & a member of the ASB Dean’s Advisory Board.

Keivon Hemmings- Ramapo Admissions Student Ambassadors (RASA), Resident Assistant, member of the Office of Equity and Diversity Task Force, The 2018 Student Graduation Commencement Speaker Committee, and Alternate Student Trustee Committee, & Ramapo College Concert Band member.

Emily Wisneski– Member of the SSHGS Dean’s Student Advisory Council, History Program Ambassador, Alpha Phi Omega fraternity,the  Student Athlete Advisory Council, Future Teachers Club, The History Club, member of Phi Alpha Theta, Kappa Delta Pi, Chi Alpha Sigma, Omicron Delta Kappa (President), and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Societies, Captain of the Ramapo Field Hockey.