Melissa Adamo

“Melissa Adamo is one of the most hard- working students I’ve met in 20 years of teaching,” says professor Ed Shannon. “She cares about literature, and is curious, insightful, and reads deep into and around the literature.” Melissa is a junior majoring in literature and is also taking courses toward teacher certification in English. She has earned a 3.70 grade point average. Melissa is from Middletown, New Jersey.

Awarded Scholarships

2009

Simon, Dr. Ernest Book Award

Dr. Ernest Simon was a professor of Literature at Ramapo from 1973 until his retirement in 1998. A group of his former students established this fund a number of years ago to honor their teacher and benefit Ramapo seniors in the Literature major. Dr. Simon appreciated the gesture and he and his wife Christiana contributed to the fund. Mrs. Simon further enhanced the fund after Dr. Simon’s death in 2003.

“One of the things I most enjoyed about Ernie Simon was that he never tired of sharing what he knew,” says his friend and colleague, Professor Ira Spar. “He approached our discussions, his teaching, and his students with the same energy that he gave to all that he did, and I count him among the best teachers Ramapo has ever had.”

This faculty-nominated award recognizes an outstanding Literature major who shows a “commitment to reading and research.”