Sarah Hildebrand

“Sarah Hildebrand is a student with rare gifts including a facility with language,” reports Literature Professor Patricia Ard. Sarah is a senior majoring in Spanish Language Studies. She is also pursuing a minor in Latino/a and Latin American Studies and a certificate in Business Essentials. She has earned a 4.00 grade point average. “Her great powers of insight into literary texts stem from an expansive curiosity that has led her to study a variety of literary genres and periods,” says Professor Ard. Sarah is from Wantage, NJ.

Awarded Scholarships

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2010

Burchell, Helen Memorial Scholarship

Helen Burchell was a member of the founding faculty at Ramapo College, joining the faculty as an associate professor of Education in 1971. She was director of Clinical Experiences for beginning teachers and served as an administrator in the Teacher Education program until 1987 when she focused on academic outreach, special projects, and grants. Her command of the English language and her editorial skills were a tremendous resource for faculty, especially in terms of grant-seeking.

For 25 years Dr. Burchell was the director of The Record Debate Classic at Ramapo College, a tournament for high school debate teams from across the region. She also served on the Donald G. and Flora A. Borg Merit Scholarship Award committee for more than a decade.

Helen Burchell grew up in New England “amongst a large and busy family” according to her brother William. Dr. Burchell earned her undergraduate degree from Cornell University in 1953 and a master and doctoral degree in Education from Columbia University Teacher’s College. She taught at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia from 1962 until 1971.

Dr. Burchell had an avid interest in American antiques. “Never again shall I encounter anyone so prodigiously skilled in acquiring antiquity nor so disarming in negotiations with dealers,” continues her brother William.

Dr. Burchell died suddenly in 2004, just three months after her retirement from Ramapo College. In recognition of her many years of service to Ramapo, the Ramapo College Foundation Board of Governors created this endowed scholarship in her memory.

Hackett, Frances K. ’80 HGS Scholarship

The Hackett HGS Scholarship was started by Frances K. Hackett, who graduated from Ramapo in 1980 with degrees in Business Administration and American Studies. Ms. Hackett began working at Prudential in 1974 and  had a distinguished career at the company where she  served as vice president of Administration and OSGLI.

Ms. Hackett was a dedicated volunteer and supporter of Ramapo College and was honored with the President’s Award of Merit in 2007. She was chair of the Ramapo College Foundation Board of Governors, and was involved with a number of Foundation Board committees, including the Executive Committee, the Distinguished Citizens Dinner Committee and the Annual Golf Outing Committee.

The Hackett SHGS Scholarship honors Ms. Hackett’s experience as a graduate of the School of American and International Studies, the former name of the School when she attended, and recognizes outstanding students in the School.

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2009

Christopher, Professor Robert J. Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship will be awarded in Spring 2024. Applications open 12/28/23 and close 1/28/24.

The Robert J. Christopher Memorial Scholarship honors the long and positive relationship between Robert J. Christopher (1937-2006), a distinguished professor of literature and Ramapo College of New Jersey. For 32 years, Dr. Christopher served as an academic administrator in addition to introducing generations of students to the depth and beauty of English and American literature. In addition, Dr. Christopher created and directed the Oxford Honors Program, the College’s first honors program and one of the early study abroad programs for liberal arts students enrolled at Ramapo College. The program brought Ramapo College students to Oxford University for summers of study and travel in England where they were introduced to the places that produced the greats of English literature.

The Professor Robert J. Christopher Memorial Scholarship was created by Dr. Christopher’s family and friends to recognize superior academic achievement among literature and documentary film/video majors, which reflects Dr. Christopher’s teaching and research interests.