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OSS-Related Scholarships

OSS-Related Scholarships

The 2024-2025 OSS-Related Scholarship Applications Windows will open by Spring Break.
Deadlines for all applications will be announced at that time. Amounts will be determined by Summer.

*  If extensions are necessary, please contact Elizabeth Brand at the Ramapo College Foundation Office: scholars@ramapo.edu  *

TO APPLY: Go to https://www.ramapo.edu/scholarships/ or click the links below. Read about the eligibility requirements and essay topics. Make sure to work on your essays each day.

NEW:  Only one common application is needed, and it can be started, saved, and modified later. Multiple essays can be submitted, as per each scholarship’s topic instructions..

Cara Mychelle Hirschman Memorial Scholarships

IMPORTANT:  Deadline TBD, and cannot be extended

For More Information or To Apply: https://www.ramapo.edu/scholarships/single/cara-mychelle-hirschman-memorial-scholarship/

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Must be a full-time undergraduate student with a documented disability which affects learning.  Preference is given to students with a Specific Learning Disability.
  • Any major
  • Have a minimum 2.9 cumulative GPA or top 2/5 rank in high school class
  • NOT a member of Greek social fraternity or sorority (although APO service fraternity and Honor Societies are allowed)
  • First consideration will be given to prior recipients and students from South Brunswick High School

Essay Topic:

New Applicants: Please read the description of Cara Hirschman provided online. Then write an essay describing your disability, how it has shaped your life and helped you to grow, as well as what you think Cara might have had in common with you. Please proofread your essay; it is recommended that you ask an OSS advisor or other resource to also proofread your essay before you submit it.

Previous Recipients: Please review the description of Cara Hirschman, and write an essay describing your latest activities and how receiving the scholarship affected your life this past year as you honored Cara’s memory. Also include a description of your disability, how it has shaped your life and helped you to grow. Please proofread your essay; it is recommended that you ask an OSS advisor or other resource to also proofread your essay before you submit it.

Warren Family Scholarship

DUE: TBD

For More Information or To Apply: https://www.ramapo.edu/scholarships/single/andrea-jeffrey-warren-family-scholarship/

Inclusion Criteria:

  • any documented disability, any undergraduate major
  • minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA
  • first consideration given to 1st-time applicants with some financial need

Essay Topic:

Describe specific obstacles you have faced in your life, including your disability, and how they have helped you to grow; kindly include examples. What have those experiences taught you about yourself and others?
Previous recipients: Also include in your essay what it has meant for you to have received this scholarship.

Please proofread your essay; it is recommended that you ask an OSS advisor or other resource to also proofread your essay before you submit it.

NDK Perseverance Scholarship

DUE: TBD

For More Information or To Apply: https://www.ramapo.edu/scholarships/single/ndk-perseverance-scholarship-endowment/ 

Inclusion Criteria:

  • any documented disability which affects learning, any undergraduate major
  • student who demonstrates “strength of character” (letter of support from a community leader is also required, preferably not your OSS counselor)
  • good academic standing

Essay Topic:

Describe the change you have seen in yourself over the past year. What character traits, including your disability, have helped you to persevere and grow?  Please proofread your essay; it is recommended that you ask an OSS advisor or other resource to also proofread your essay before you submit it.

Robert B. Farneski Sr. Memorial Scholarship

DUE: TBD

For More Information or To Apply: https://www.ramapo.edu/scholarships/single/6761/

Inclusion Criteria:

  • candidate must have a documented disability
  • seeking an undergraduate degree
  • good academic standing

Essay Topic:

Read the description of Robert B. Farneski Sr. provided online and write why you are deserving of the scholarship. Please proofread your essay; it is recommended that you ask an OSS advisor or other resource to also proofread your essay before you submit it.

Holden Family Scholarship

DUE: TBD

For More Information or To Apply: https://www.ramapo.edu/scholarships/single/holden-family-scholarship/

Inclusion Criteria: 

  • full time Sophomore, Junior, or Senior enrolled in OSS
  • cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • first consideration given to students with financial need

Essay Topic:

What has been the most difficult part of your disability to overcome in order to find success in college?  Please proofread your essay; it is recommended that you ask an OSS advisor or other resource to also proofread your essay before you submit it.

Founding President George T. Potter & Laurie Potter, Ph.D. Scholarship

DUE: TBD

For More Information or To Apply: https://www.ramapo.edu/scholarships/single/founding-president-george-t-potter-laurie-potter-ph-d-scholarship/

Inclusion Criteria:

  • any documented disability, any major
  • minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
  • minimum of 64 undergraduate credits
  • plan to attend graduate school, OR  currently enrolled in a Master’s program at RCNJ

Essay Topic:

Describe what plans you have for graduate school, and any graduate programs to which you may have applied. Include the school or workplace accommodations you’ll be requesting, if any, and your career plans. Please proofread your essay; it is recommended that you ask an OSS advisor or other resource to also proofread your essay before you submit it.

Joseph A. Ippolito Endowed Scholarship

DUE: TBD

For More Information or To Apply: https://www.ramapo.edu/scholarships/single/ippolito-joseph-a-endowed-scholarship/

Inclusion Criteria:

  • preference given to students with hearing, vision, neurological, neuromuscular or orthopedic disabilities
  • minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, minimum of 64 credits and plan to attend graduate school, OR currently enrolled in a Master’s program at RCNJ

Essay Topic:

Describe what plans you have for graduate school, and any graduate programs to which you may have applied. Include the school or workplace accommodations you’ll be requesting, if any, and your career plans. Please proofread your essay; it is recommended that you ask an OSS advisor or other resource to also proofread your essay before you submit it.

Margaret Starmer Endowed Scholarship

DUE: TBD

For More Information or To Apply: https://www.ramapo.edu/scholarships/single/starmer-margaret-oss-endowed-scholarship/

Inclusion Criteria: 

  • any documented disability, any major
  • minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
  • minimum of 64 undergraduate credits, OR  currently enrolled in a Master’s program at RCNJ

Essay Topic:

Describe how working with OSS has helped you reached your goals at RCNJ.  Please proofread your essay; it is recommended that you ask an OSS advisor or other resource to also proofread your essay before you submit it.

Evelyn Aronow Endowment

Due: TBD

For More Information or To Apply: https://www.ramapo.edu/scholarships/single/evelyn-aronow-scholarship/

This scholarship also helps to fund a non-paid internship at a not-for-profit organization.

Inclusion Criteria

  • for a student who is working with any disabled population (children, senior citizens, vision impaired, hearing impaired, etc.)
  • for a student who has shown potential to be an advocate for the disabled and wants to make this a career
  • for a student who has a disability and is working to improve the life of others with a disability
  • good academic standing

There are many other non-OSS related scholarships for which you may apply which are not yet open, with later deadlines. Your Spring 2024 and/or Summer 2024 cumulative GPAs will be used, and recipients will be notified in the Fall. Since financial need is considered with some of these, filing of a FAFSA is highly recommended, though not required. Information for other Fall, non-OSS scholarships can also be found at https://www.ramapo.edu/scholarships/ and those deadlines are usually in September or later.

Do you have OSS-related questions about these scholarships? Please e-mail Ramona Kopacz at ossscholars@ramapo.edu