Hope DeWitt

Hope DeWitt of Forked River, N.J. is a History and International Studies dual major with a minor in Political Science. She has a 3.7 GPA, active member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, and National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and has made the Dean’s List all of her semesters at Ramapo. 

At Ramapo, Hope is an active member with the Peer Facilitators, an intern at the Gross Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies assisting in the Czech Torah Project, and a Global Road Runner after her study abroad in Germany. Hope enjoys being a helpful hand and guiding force for the student body to encourage all students to strive to reach their goals. 

Hope has also been involved with the Lacey Township School District as a paraprofessional focusing on special education, and in Interfaith Hospitality, where she helps the homeless population in New Jersey by providing shelter and food. 

After graduation, Hope plans to work for the United Nations in the field of Human Rights and strives to prevent genocide. She is currently applying for opportunities in the Human Rights Watch organization and the International Rescue Committee. 

Awarded Scholarships

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2024

Richmond, Clara and Morton Scholarship Endowment

Morton Richmond, an impoverished 23-year old, immigrated from Russia in 1926. He married Clara Richmond, who was born in Clinton, CT, and the two were married for 62 years. Morton became a prominent real estate investor who owned properties in Brooklyn, The Bronx and Queens, NY. In addition to managing her husband’s office, Clara was a homemaker who raised her four sons in New Rochelle, NY. She was also a talented mezzo-soprano who performed in numerous community productions and conducted the Women’s Westchester Chorale.

Mr. Richmond passed away in 2002 at the age of 100, and Clara died at age 98 in 2017.

Their son Stan is a longtime member of the Ramapo College Foundation Board of Governors, and serves on the board of the Friends of Ramapo.

He created this scholarship to honor the memory of his parents, and to support students who are interested in understanding the origins, theory and practice of international human rights and the treatment of genocide as a crime under international law.