Valeriya Kamenova

Valeriya Kamenova, an international student from Bulgaria, is majoring in International Studies with a minor in International Business. Her interest in the international arena was fueled by her grandfather’s remembrances of WWII and her parents’ recollections of the fall of the Communist regime in Bulgaria. Valeriya has made a commitment to promote human rights. She has devoted her time to several agencies in Bulgaria, including the Youth Red Cross, that are dedicated to helping children. “I believe that the proper combination of knowledge and action is an essential step of building human rights awareness on national, regional and international levels.” Valeriya, who has a 3.79 grade point average, plans to obtain a doctorate degree and promote international human rights in crisis areas on a global scale.

Awarded Scholarships

---

2012

Brown, Babette and Raymond Scholarship

The Babette and Raymond Brown Endowed Scholarship was created by Ramapo College employee Babs Varano in memory of her parents. The purpose of the Brown Scholarship is to recognize and foster Ramapo College students who “demonstrate an international perspective.” Students majoring in International Business or International Studies are eligible.

Kraus, Becky and Frank Scholarship

Long-time Mahwah residents and Ramapo supporters Rebecca and Frank Kraus created this endowed scholarship in 1988. The purpose of the Kraus Scholarship is to recognize an upperclassman who is a campus leader. “We were both very much in favor of Ramapo becoming a part of the Mahwah community,” said Frank Kraus, who served as mayor of Mahwah in the 1980s. “The College has been great for Mahwah.”

Born in Czechoslovakia, Frank Kraus served in World War I as a lieutenant in the Republic Army. He then moved to Mulhouse, France where he earned a degree in Textile Engineering with the expectation of taking over his father’s textile business. While Frank was on a business trip to the United States, Hitler invaded Poland and Frank lost everything. In the U.S., Frank pursued a successful business career and was a tireless leader in the community until his death in 2003. He was president of the Mahwah Board of Health, a trustee of Valley Hospital for 12 years and member of the Board of Directors of the West Bergen Mental Health Center.

At Ramapo, Mr. Kraus served on the board of the Friends of Ramapo and received the Distinguished Citizens Award in 1995. Mrs. Kraus, a native of Raleigh, NC, was a professional artist and worked for Conde Nast and Vogue magazine and later devoted her talents to writing and illustrating children’s books. She was active with many non-profit organizations, including Ramapo College, where she served as a member of the Friends Board and as a major supporter of the Spiritual Center. She was active at the College for nearly 40 years until she passed away in 2015.