Richard Klas

Richard Klas of Midland Park, N.J. is an Accounting major with a minor Economics. His 3.9 GPA has earned him Dean’s List status every semester and entry into Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. 

Richard is in the Honors Program, a member of Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity, and the Treasurer for Ramapo College Young Life. Off-campus, he is a volunteer leader for Young Life’s middle school group. He is also active in his church and spent the previous summer working as a student volunteer consultant for the Small Business Development Center at Ramapo College. 

After graduation, Richard is interested in pursuing a career in accounting and eventually attending law school.

Caitlyn Napolitano

Caitlyn Napolitano of Wyckoff, N.J. is a 4+1 Accounting MSAC major who hopes to become a CPA. She has a 4.0 GPA and has made the Dean’s List every semester. 

Caitlyn is involved with Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, intramural Zumba, and was previously a Commuter Student Mentor, where she assisted incoming freshman commuter students and made them feel comfortable navigating Ramapo. Under Provost Becker, she completed an independent study analyzing extreme weather patterns. 

Off campus, Caitlyn is involved with Kundalini yoga.

Louma Hannawi

Louma Hannawi of Rochelle Park, N.J. holds an Associate’s in Accounting from Bergen Community College, where she graduated with honors. She is now studying for her Bachelor’s in Accounting and has a 4.0 GPA.

Louma came to the U.S. 7 years ago, and even though English is not her first language, “I did not give up and I continued to reach my goals,” she says. After graduating, she intends to pursue a master’s degree. 

Off campus, she volunteers at St. Mark Syriac Orthodox Church as a Special Needs Teacher and has previously volunteered with Walk for Autism. 

Negin Kholdi

Negin Kholdi of Paramus, N.J. is a graduate student pursuing a Masters in Accounting. She has a 3.86 GPA. She is a Presidential Scholar, AICPA Legacy Scholar, and a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, Beta Alpha Psi, & Omicron Delta Epsilon.

Negin is the President of Beta Alpha Psi Honor Society and Vice President of the Culture Club. She also serves as the Accounting Tutor for the Anisfield School of Business and volunteers her time as a Young Professionals Group Member through the American Red Cross.

This past summer, Negin served as an Assurance Intern at Ernst & Young. She has since accepted a full-time offer of employment and looks forward to working for the firm in the near future.

Sierra Rodgers

Sierra Rodgers of Fair Lawn, N.J., is an Accounting Major with a 3.95 GPA. She is in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the New Jersey Collegiate Business Administration Association.

While staying dedicated to her studies, Sierra works a part-time job and recently started an internship at ExpressScripts.

Amir Hirojidinov

Amir Hirojidinov of Fair Lawn, N.J. is a senior Accounting major. He has maintained a 3.8 GPA and has been on the Dean’s List for four semesters.

At Ramapo, Amir has been active in Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity, Beta Alpha Psi Honor Society, and the Accounting Club. He serves as treasurer for Alpha Kappa Psi and Beta Alpha Psi. Amir also serves as student ambassador for NJCPA and Surgent CPA Review.

In the past year, Amir has interned with KPMG and Cullari Carrico. He is pursuing his CPA license as well as a long career in the field of accounting.

Amir also spends his time playing in a men’s ice hockey league in Hackensack, NJ. He has served as a volunteer assistant coach as well.

Danielle Abraham

At the end of her summer internship at accounting firm WithumSmith+Brown, Danielle Abraham received a full-time offer of employment. “It’s been my ultimate goal to be an accountant since I was a senior in high school. I’m really looking forward to working at Withum because this company is everything I hoped for in a job.”

Danielle has a 3.9 GPA and has been active in Sigma Delta Tau Sorority, Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honors Society, and the Order of Omega Leadership Honors Society. During the 2018 year (January-December), she served as the president of her sorority. In addition to Withum, she had various accounting internships at Samsung SDS America and Cullari Carrico, LLC.

She is from North Brunswick, N.J.

Marissa Meyer

Marissa Meyer of Monroe, NY is an Accounting Major. She has a 3.9 GPA and was inducted into the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. “I am proud say that I have been on the Dean’s List since my freshman year.”

At Ramapo, Marissa has been active in several organizations, including Alpha Phi Omega, the Professional Community Service Community, The ASB Deans Advisory Council, and Colleges Against Cancer Club.

Marissa has volunteered at Camp Snowflake (a center to bond with the intellectually disabled), and takes part in annual walks such as The CHD walk (supporting Congenital Heart Disease victims) and The Out of The Darkness Walk (supporting mental illness).

In the future, she hopes to provide financial assistance to non-profit companies.

Paris Hughes

“My greatest accomplishment as a student athlete was when I was named Most Outstanding Track Athlete by the NJAC,” says Paris Hughes of Robbinsville, N.J.

Paris is an Accounting major, and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society, as well as the women’s cross-country and track-and-field teams. She joined cross country/track during the fall of her freshman year and has since earned numerous All-Conference honors within the New Jersey Athletic Conference, and All-Region honors in the NCAA.  Paris is also in the Teacher Education Program, and has worked off-campus for an after-school program at a Mahwah Elementary School. Her goals post-graduation include working at an accounting firm and volunteering to teach children.

Megan Quinlan

Megan Quinlan of Sayreville, N.J. is an Accounting major.  She has a 3.924 GPA.  Megan was just inducted into Rho Alpha Sigma Honor Society for Resident Assistants and received an Outstanding Leadership by a sophomore award for 2017.

Megan is heavily involved on-campus and holds several positions including Resident Assistant, Peer Facilitator, and Audit Intern in the Office of the President.  She is also an on-campus Representative for Roger CPA Review and involved in Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority and Sophomores Advancing in Leadership.

During the summer of 2017, Megan studied abroad at the University College Dublin and also interned for Deloitte Ireland.  She will be interning for Deloitte again next summer in their Princeton, N.J. office.  She is an aspiring CPA and hopes one day to receive the chance to be able to work abroad again.  “I hope to one day have the opportunity to provide scholarships, and help Ramapo students follow their dreams.”

Keith Ellebracht

Keith Ellebracht is a Senior Accounting Major. He currently has a 3.77 GPA, and will be graduating in May. Keith works as the Assistant Residence Director of Mackin Hall on campus, and has been in Residence Life since his Sophomore year. He is also a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Anisfield School of Business, as well as the Honors Program Student Executive Board.

Keith has previously held internships at Morgan Stanley and KPMG, and will be working for PriceWaterhouseCoopers after graduation.

Paris Hughes

Paris Hughes of Robbinsville, NJ, is an Accounting major and is in the Teacher Education program. She has a 3.4 GPA and has been a member of the Dean’s List.

At Ramapo, Paris has been part of the women’s cross-country and track and field teams. She joined during the fall of her freshman year and has since earned numerous All-Conference honors within the New Jersey Athletic Conference and All-Region honors in the NCAA. “My greatest accomplishment as a student athlete was when I was named Most Outstanding Track Athlete by the NJAC,” says Paris.

Paris has worked off-campus for an after-school program for children at Mahwah Elementary School. Her goals post-graduation include working at an accounting firm and volunteering to teach children.

Karen Bassil

Karen Bassil is an Accounting major in the Anisfield School of Business.

Alexis Duke

Alexis Duke of Flemington, NJ, is an Accounting major with a 3.8 GPA.  She was inducted into the Golden Key Honor Society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Alpha Lambda Delta.

At Ramapo, Alexis has been active in several organizations and activities, including the College Programming Board (CPB), Alpha Kappa Psi and Ramapo Admissions Student Ambassadors.  She served as Co-President for CPB and the Secretary and Service Chair for Alpha Kappa Psi in Fall 2015.

Alexis has also volunteered with community food supply and blood drives.

Paul Juelis

Paul Juelis of Middletown, NJ, is an Accounting major with a minor in International Business. He has a 3.74 GPA. Paul was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society and Chi Alpha Sigma National Athlete Honor Society.

At Ramapo, Paul has been active in several organizations and activities, including Ramapo Men’s Cross Country and Track and Field teams, the Accounting Club, and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, where he serves as President.

Paul has also been involved with the New Jersey Society of Public Accountants.

Angie Conte

Angie Conte of Garfield, N.J. is an accounting major. She has a 3.45 grade point average.

Angie will soon be continuing her professional career by participating in an internship program with a public accounting firm. After graduating from Ramapo College, Angie plans to become a CPA.

Chaim Pantierer

Chaim Pantierer of Chestnut Ridge, N.Y. is an accounting major. He has a 3.97 grade point average.  Chaim has been inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society and Golden Key International Honour Society.

At Ramapo, Chaim has been active in several organizations and activities, including Hillel.

Chaim has also been involved in off –campus activities and organizations, including Tomchei Shabbos of Rockland County, and served as a mentor for a teenager whose father had passed away.

Greg Flohs

“A career in accounting sounds like one of the most boring and repetitive type of careers an individual can have,” said Greg Flohs. “However, I see accounting as a way to help individuals financially with their daily lives or with their businesses and as a way to solve financial problems.” Greg is a senior majoring in Accounting with an Information Systems minor who has earned a 3.83 grade point average. He is a founding member of Alpha Kappa Psi, a business fraternity that conducts community service projects. He is also a peer facilitator, participates in the KPMG mentoring program, the Sophomore Advancing in Leadership program, the Linden Residential Hall Council, and flag football. Greg is from Bayville, NJ.

Daniel Rosario

Daniel Rosario of Hawthorne, NJ is an Accounting major. He is vice president of Finance for Enactus, and serves as treasurer for his fraternity, Lambda Theta Phi. He is a member and chief financial officer of the National Association of Black Accountants. Daniel has set a number of goals for himself. He will continue to work as a junior accountant at a CPA firm, complete the requirements to earn a CPA license and then take the GMAT to pursue a Ph.D. in Accounting. He envisions his career path first as a professor and then as dean of a business school or president of a college. “As a scholarship recipient, I am a living example of the type of student that Ramapo College hopes to create,” he said. “It is an honor to be a student of Ramapo College and to receive this scholarship.” Daniel has 3.15 grade point average.

Alexandria Kanellos

“Over the summer I interned as an underwriting account analyst at Munich Re, a reinsurance company,” said Alexandria Kanellos. Alexandria is a senior majoring in Accounting who has earned a 3.55 grade point average. She is a founding member of the business service fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi, as well as the Accounting Club and the College Programming Board. “In January, I was fortunate enough to receive a winter internship at WithumSmith & Brown as a tax and audit intern,” Alexandria said. “The skills I am learning, both from working and being in the classroom will help me advance even further in my career once I graduate.”

Anthony Darakjy

Anthony Darakjy of Wyckoff, NJ is an Accounting major and an International Business minor. This spring, Anthony participated in the China Immersion Experience, which took him to Beijing, Shanghai and rural China. He believes the experience will help him to become a better student and businessperson. Anthony is a Student Trustee of the College’s Student Government Association, serves on ASB’s Dean’s Student Council Advisory Board, is a Student Ambassador, co-founder of Building Tomorrow and a member of the Accounting and Finance Clubs. He has completed internships at Bank of America and Aegis Insurance Services. His community service activities include the College’s Leaders in Service Program and SIFE. Anthony has a 3.96 grade point average.

Rudina Kajacka

Rudina Kajacka of Garfield, NJ is a Business Administration major and an Accounting minor. She is a member of the United Nations Club, Math Club, International Student Organization, Accounting Club and Finance Club. Rudina was inducted into Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Chi Alpha Epsilon Honor Society and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Rudina has a mission for each day. It is to “cherish my family and friends, improve myself personally and professionally so that I can advance within my educational development, lead a successful career that I will enjoy and take on any challenges that come my way.” Rudina has a 3.56 grade point average.

Erin Kaplan-Burns

Erin Kaplan-Burns is a senior from Haddonfield, NJ majoring in Accounting, and a member of Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. She is a student trustee, and is active in student government. Erin plans to become a CPA and seeks a career with a large corporation. She intends to earn an MBA as well.

Valensiya Tsvetanova

Valensiya Tsvetanova is a senior from Bulgaria who came to the United States six years ago as an exchange student, and was placed in Elkhart, Indiana. Valensiya is majoring in Accounting and Law and Society, and is involved in many campus organizations and projects. Projects have included Alternative Spring Break, treasurer of three student clubs, Model UN, and Students for Free Enterprise. Valensiya plans to enter law school and earn an MBA at the same time.

Kelly Yago

“I am determined to pass the CPA exam and subsequently earn my MBA in accounting,” says Kelly Yago. Kelly received her associate’s degree at County College of Morris before enrolling at Ramapo, where she is an Accounting major with a 3.96 grade point average. Currently in her senior year, Kelly has completed internships at the firm of Cronin and Hanley in Kinnelon, NJ and at Northwestern Mutual. Kelly is from Butler, NJ. Even prior to graduation, she has been offered a full-time audit position at the prestigious accounting firm of K.P.M.G.

Kevin McNerney

As a child and throughout high school, Kevin McNerney of Bayonne, NJ never had an answer to the question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” His high school guidance counselor suggested he research several majors. When Kevin hit upon the definition of Accounting as “using mathematics and logic to predict future business transactions, analyze financial information and apply that information to help management make crucial business decisions,” he was sold. Kevin, who has a 3.89 grade point average, is in his senior year majoring in Accounting and plans to take the CPA exam. “A public accounting firm will expose me to a variety of areas of accounting and help me find the field I most enjoy,” he says.

John Mayer

John Mayer of Washington Township, NJ is an Accounting major. John has worked as an electrician and a salesperson. At Bergen Community College he chose Accounting as a major, worked part-time and graduated with a 4.00. Now at Ramapo, with a grade point average of 3.87, John says, “My experience here has further cemented my yearning for advancement in the field of accounting.”

Mariya Bistrina

Mariya Bistrina is an accounting major in the Anisfield School of Business. A junior, she has earned a grade point average of 3.96. Mariya is from Bulgaria.

Kevin McNerney

As a child and throughout high school, Kevin McNerney of Bayonne, NJ never had an answer to the question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” His high school guidance counselor suggested he research several majors. When Kevin hit upon the definition of Accounting as “using mathematics and logic to predict future business transactions, analyze financial information and apply that information to help management make crucial business decisions,” he was sold. Kevin, who has a 3.89 grade point average, is in his senior year majoring in Accounting and plans to take the CPA exam. “A public accounting firm will expose me to a variety of areas of accounting and help me find the field I most enjoy,” he says.

I am grateful for the opportunity, and it motivated me to continue my hard work.

Laura Zindel

“Choosing accounting as my major melds my love of math and my passion for the business world,” says Laura Zindel. Laura is in her junior year and is also pursuing a minor in information systems. She has earned a 3.61 grade point average. Laura works at a local Italian restaurant and at a medical office. She is a peer facilitator and Antioch leader, and is a member of the Accounting Club. Laura is from Hewitt, New Jersey.

Jonelyn Rae Planillo

Jonelyn Rae Planillo is from New Milford, New Jersey and is majoring in accounting with a minor in music. She is in her senior year and has earned a 3.89 grade point average. Jonelyn is a senator in the Student Government Association, a student representative to the Diversity Action Committee, and senior advisor for the Filipino American Student Association. She is a member of College Democrats and Take the Lead, the ballroom dancing club. She works at the Animal Clinic of New York, and last summer was an audit intern at an accounting firm in Edison, New Jersey. In the summer of 2007 Jonelyn was an intern for a Chief Strategy Officer at the United States Mint in Washington, D.C.

The KPMG Scholarship is specifically for accounting. Receiving this further helps my study in the field and I greatly appreciate their generosity.