This year’s group of recipients is the largest number of students to be awarded the Gilman Scholarship in one year, more than doubling the total number of students who have received the scholarship at Ramapo

May 13, 2025

by Liz Mendicino ’26

This year, Ramapo has an astounding five students who have won Gilman Scholarships for the 2025 Summer. This is a record number of students to be awarded the Gilman in one year at Ramapo College.

The Gilman is a prestigious scholarship awarded to students of limited financial means so that they may study abroad.  Among Ramapo’s winners are Alejandra Herrera-Ramirez , Frank Mendez, Melina Stamatiou, and Nicole Dipre ‘26. These students will be studying across Spain, France, and Denmark, representing Ramapo as premier students and gaining once in a lifetime experience.

“I will represent America as a citizen of varied identity: a Dominican, first generation college student, second generation immigrant woman with hope for a greater, united future,” said Dipre. “I have known and befriended people of all ages, abilities, ethnicities, gender and sexual identities, religions, and political beliefs. I highly value difference of opinion, compassion, open-mindedness, and pursuit/expression of one’s truth. I will bring these experiences and values with me wherever I go, especially as I travel outside of my own known world into Seville.” Dipre, a visual arts major, hopes that her time in Spain will help further not only her connection to the Spanish language and culture, but additionally build upon skills for her major that she could not otherwise do. This trip will allow her to practice visual and performance art, while contextualizing her learning within her environment.

Alejandra Herrera-Ramirez

The Gilman also provides students who may not have the room in their schedule to study abroad a chance to make the life-changing opportunity work for them. “When I first looked into studying abroad, I did not think my tight schedule as a medical imaging science major would allow it,” said Herrera-Ramirez. “But then I met Professor Santamaria Laorden, who inspired me to pursue a minor in Spanish. It was something I knew would benefit my career, because I aspire to have great connections with patients and give them the best care possible. As a Hispanic, first generation college student, I grew up translating for my parents in various environments, including medical ones. I was informed that by studying abroad I would be able to fulfill the additional classes required to earn my minor in Spanish and Certificate for Spanish for Healthcare and Human Services.”

“Studying abroad in Bilbao, Spain will help me achieve my future goals because I hope to one day change our healthcare system for the better, particularly for Spanish-speaking patients,” said Stamatiou. “I plan to do this whether my impact will be small or large; change must start somewhere. This goal I have in mind is to improve patient interactions, specifically with patients who don’t speak English.” As a nursing major, Stamatiou has been cultivating an education based on compassion and excellence. Her experience in Spain will allow for her to develop an intercultural understanding that will benefit her future patients, while giving her the opportunity to study abroad despite her tight schedule.

Previous Gilman scholars from Ramapo College include:

• 2024: Alexandra Dionisi ‘25– University of Deusto in Bilbao, Spain
• 2022: Jamie Kim ’23- Korea University in Seoul, Korea
• 2022: Melanie Trenado ‘22- Metropolis Japan Magazine, Tokyo, Japan
• 2020: Patrice Lenowitz ’20-  Climate Change in Cusco, Peru

The Gilman Program is a competitive, merit-based scholarship. To be eligible for the Gilman Program, applicants must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the time of application or provide proof that they will be receiving a Pell Grant during the term of their study abroad program or internship. If you are interested in applying, contact Director of Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships Rebecca Root (rroot@ramapo.edu) and Assistant Director of International Education Kathryn Lamanna (klamanna@ramapo.edu).