Katia Flosa

Katia Flosa of Kenilworth, N.J. is a Nursing major with a minor in Psychology. She has a 3.8 GPA, is on the Dean’s List, a recipient of the Dean’s Scholarship, and is a member of the Honors College.

At Ramapo, Katia has been active in several organizations and activities, as a proud Resident Assistant at the Overlook where she facilitates a positive and stigma-free community. In addition, Katia is a Ramapo Admission Student Ambassador where she can show off her Ramapo Pride to prospective students.

Katia has also been involved in off–campus activities and organizations, including tutoring elementary school kids in her hometown district, and is a Physical Therapy Aid at All Care Physical Therapy, where she is able to assist in rehabilitating patients.

After graduation, Katia plans to become a Registered Pediatric Nurse and work in a hospital in an urban setting where she can apply her trilingual skills. At the same time, Katia aspires to attend graduate school so she can attain her Nurse Practitioner’s License.

Ronia Mohamed

Ronia Mohamed of Wanaque, N.J. is a Marketing major with a minor in Business Analytics. She has a 4.0 GPA and has been on the Dean’s List every semester since transferring to Ramapo.

Ronia acts as the social media coordinator for Ramapo’s Sustainability Committee, where she helps raise awareness for a variety of sustainability-related events and initiatives on campus. She is also active in Ramapo’s Enactus club, being a part of the teams behind Ramapo’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Week and Black History Month Entrepreneurship Discussion Panel.

She has also been involved with her local adoption shelter and public library, volunteering at each for five and two years respectively. After graduation, Ronia hopes to use her degree in the social entrepreneurship field to make a positive impact on her community.

Xaymaraliz Dumeng

Xaymaraliz Dumeng of Belleville, N.J. is an Environmental Studies major in the Honors Program. She has a 3.7 GPA and is a member of the Tau Sigma National Honor Society.

Xaymaraliz is highly involved in 1STEP and the Sustainability Committee, where she advocates for sustainable practices and environmental awareness, and volunteers at MEVO, a local sustainable farm.

She is most proud of completing an internship at the Meadowlands Environmental Research Institute. Post-graduation, Xaymaraliz plans to continue her education and complete a Master’s in Sustainability Management.

Ryan Greff

Ryan Greff is a Business Administration major with a concentration in Finance and a minor in Information Technology. He is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and the Golden Key International Honour Society. Ryan is also an Eagle Scout and is Assistant Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 53.

In 2019, Ryan was invited to join the New Jersey Business Administration Association. Only the top 1% of business school students at their respective collegiate institutions are invited to join this prestigious statewide honor society. He is also a recipient of the Congressional Award.

Previously, Ryan served two terms in the Student Government Senate and was a member of the Library Learning Commons Task force to oversee stages of the $40,000,000 Learning Commons Project. He has also served on the President’s Committee for Campus Sustainability, where he worked to advance environmental stewardship across campus.

He lives in Fair Lawn, N.J. and currently has a 4.0 GPA. After college, Ryan hopes to secure a job in finance.

Rojina Shrestha

Rojina Shrestha, from Kathmandu, Nepal is a Biochemistry major with a minor in Bioinformatics. She has a 3.87 GPA and has been on the Dean’s List since her first semester. She has also been inducted to Sigma Xi, a scientific research honors society.

Rojina has been active in the Computer and Technology club, Biochemistry club, and the International Student’s Organization. She is a tutor and a teaching assistant for Biology at Ramapo, and she was part of a summer research program at the University of Rochester.

“After graduation, I want to go to graduate school to pursue my interest in biochemistry, possibly in the pharmaceutical field to do research on drug discovery.”

Rachel Loia

Rachel Loia is from Randolph, N.J. and is studying Biology with a Teacher Certification. She has a GPA of 3.87 and has made the Dean’s List her first two semesters. She hopes to become a high school biology teacher and share her knowledge of the scientific world with her students.

She serves as treasurer of the Beekeeping Club, has tutored for OSS, was a teaching assistant for a biology lab, and works in the greenhouse. Rachel also judges speech and debate tournaments and rock climbs in her free time.

Michael Flood

Michael Flood of Pequannock, NJ is an Environmental Science student with Earth Science, Biology, and Plant Studies minors. He has a 4.0 grade point average and is part of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS), the Alpha Lambda Delta honor society, and Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society.

Michael works on campus as an Environmental Chemistry tutor and is part of the Step 1 Environmental club.

He is the Assistant Scoutmaster in his local Boy Scout troop and also works on Catalpa Ridge Farm, a Community Supported Farm, in Wantage, NJ where he has been involved with Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) deliveries, farm operations, and land management.

Pamela Gilligan

Pamela Gilligan of Flemington, NJ is an Environmental Studies major with a 3.7 GPA.  She was inducted into the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society in her freshman year.  On campus, Pamela is an active club member of Plant Strong Ramapo, 1STEP, and the secretary of the Yoga Club.

She was recently an intern for Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve (BHWP) in New Hope, PA where she created environmental curriculum, taught classes, propagated and cared for native plant species, and handled grounds maintenance.  For her intern project, she created a sustainable forest labyrinth titled the Green Labyrinth, which is currently the biggest attraction to date at BHWP.  She also interned with the Mahwah Environmental Volunteers Organization, where she helped maintain MEVO’s educational farms, led volunteers, beekeeping, and planted and harvested produce. She also leads volunteer events at the new two acre educational farm at the Campgaw Mountain Reservation in Mahwah.

For the spring 2016 semester, Pamela will travel to South India for the faculty-led program of sustainability and development. “This is the perfect opportunity for me to discover a completely different environmental outlook on the world by immersing myself with a foreign culture.”

Brianne Bishop

Brianne Bishop of Branchburg, N.J. is an environmental studies major and visual arts minor. She has a 3.78 grade point average. Brianne is a member of the Golden Key Honor Society and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society.

At Ramapo, Brianne has been active in several organizations and activities, including 1STEP, Yoga Club and Sustainable Living Facilities. She is a peer facilitator and a Resident Assistant on campus.

Brianne also has been involved in off –campus activities and organizations, including volunteering with the NY/NJ Trail Conference.

Jeffrey Bendett

Jeffrey Bendett of Glen Rock, N.J., is an environmental studies major with two minors, philosophy and international studies.  He has a 3.92 grade point average.

On campus, Jeffrey works as a peer advisor in the Center for Student Success.  He interned at Ringwood State Park Botanical Gardens and the Meadowlands Environmental Center.  Jeffrey participated in a development and sustainability study abroad program in Bangalore, India.  Off campus, he has volunteered on conservation trips to Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands.

Jeffrey would like to pursue a career in environmental and international education.

Brittany Ryan

Brittany Ryan is a senior majoring in Environmental Studies. Her minor is Public Policy, and she has earned a 3.86 grade point average. She participated in a student exchange at the University of Hilo last semester, and last year assisted in constructing the Saltbox Environmental Research Center in Torne Valley, NJ as part of her Environmental Seminar class. Brittany plans to continue her education and ultimately earn a Ph.D. in Environmental Policy. “Through the advancement of my education I feel I can impact society,” she says. “I long for environmental and social justice, the kind of justice that is brought about when the Earth and its people are treated fairly.”

Making decisions to continue my education is hindered by financial hardships, and scholarships make pursuing graduate studies much more attainable. Thank you.

Sara Mateen

Sara Mateen seeks to combine her passions for sports and science as a Biology major. In high school Sara played volleyball, basketball, softball, lacrosse, and ran track. At Ramapo she is a member of the Biology Club, the Pre- Med Club, the TV Club, and the Yoga Club. She works as a physical therapy aide at Sports Care Therapy, and plans to be a physical therapist. “I love studying nutrition and ways to improve health in a natural way, such as antioxidant foods and exercise,” Sara says. Sara is from Wayne, NJ and has earned a 3.85 grade point average.

Jason Whelpley

Jason Whelpley is a senior enrolled in the School of Theoretical and Applied Science. He is pursing the Integrated Science Studies major, concentrating in Public Policy and Administration. He also is pursuing courses toward certification in Elementary Education to teach science. He has earned a 3.77 grade point average. Jason has worked in a number of jobs on campus in the Berrie Center and for Residence Life. He is a member of the Yoga Club and the Science Fiction and Comic Book Club. He has performed in one act plays in the Berrie Center. “I plan to become a teacher in an elementary school, or a science teacher in a middle school,” he says. Jason is from North Arlington, NJ.

2009
Because of the Coppertone Tuition Scholarship I am able to pursue my certification in teaching in hopes of one day being a principal. The generosity of the benefactors means so much to me.Without this scholarship paying for college it would be almost impossible! This scholarship is really helping me become the person I want to be.