Alison Culvert

Alison Culvert of Montvale, NJ is a Literature major with the goal of earning a master’s degree and becoming an elementary school teacher. College life was proceeding as planned when Alison was injured in a car accident. The ensuing recovery and disabilities forced her to withdraw from college. She says it took a year and a half for her to be herself again; she credits Ramapo College with providing significant help. Her ability to teach and learn with others is demonstrated by serving as peer facilitator for the Office of Specialized Services, teaching ESL to campus cafeteria employees and her involvement in a sustainability living facility pilot program. Alison, who has a 3.73 grade point average, is a member of the Sigma Tau Delta Literature Honor Society and a founding sister of the College’s chapter of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. Her life is again proceeding on plan. After graduation, she will enroll in a master’s program in Nashville, TN where her family lives.

Awarded Scholarships

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2012

Annunziato, Melissa Memorial Scholarship

Early in the summer of 2002, Ramapo College junior Melissa Annunziato was tragically killed in a car accident.  Melissa’s mother, her colleagues, friends, and neighbors sought to establish a permanent legacy to Melissa, her spirit, and beliefs. They spearheaded an effort to raise funds to start an endowed scholarship fund at Ramapo and held an event in February 2003 to celebrate Melissa’s life.

At Ramapo, Melissa was a Literature major working toward teacher certification in Elementary Education. She was committed to community service, worked in the teacher education office and was active in the student organization, Future Educators of America. This award recognizes students with a similar commitment and is open to students who participate in service-learning opportunities or alternative spring break programs, particularly those who are interested in working with children.

Potter, George T. Founding President and Laurie Potter Ph.D.

The Founding President George T. Potter and Laurie Potter Ph.D. Scholarship was started in 2009. As Ramapo College’s inaugural president, George Potter played the role of academic visionary, overseeing scores of founding faculty members, construction of a brand new campus and the establishment of the academic values that now define the College.

George Potter was born in England, the son of a boatman. He earned degrees from Stanford Hall, Loughborough and Oriel College, Oxford, where he developed adult education and extension programs. He continued this work at the University of Alberta in Canada, then helped plan the new Grand Valley State College in Michigan, where he progressed to vice president for Academic Affairs. It was from this position that he took the post of president at the experimental Ramapo College of New Jersey.

From the beginning, Dr. Potter and his wife Laurie championed programs that increased access to Ramapo for women, veterans, minorities and people with disabilities. Mrs. Potter, in particular, was instrumental in making sure that persons with disabilities felt welcome at Ramapo and helped launch what is now the Office of Specialized Services. The College’s academic buildings were constructed to be accessible to persons with disabilities, well before the Americans With Disabilities Act required such measures.

At his death in 2009 friends, family and former colleagues of Dr. Potter contributed to this endowed scholarship fund. The purpose of the fund is to recognize outstanding upperclassmen registered with the Office of Specialized Services who intend to continue their education in graduate school, or  are currently attending a Ramapo College Graduate program.