Matthew DiPietro

Matthew DiPietro of Suffern, N.Y. is a senior Social Science major with a concentration in Education Studies and Phys Ed/Health certification. He is currently enrolled in the 4 + 1 MASE program, and he has a 3.8 GPA. Matthew is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and Kappa Delta Pi Honor Societies and has made the Dean’s List every semester. 

At Ramapo, Matthew serves as President of Ramapo Sports Club, President of Ramapo Basketball Club, and works as a Peer Facilitator to mentor incoming first-year students. As President of these clubs, Matthew is instrumental in creating a welcoming environment for college students who enjoy watching sports and being active. 

Matthew has also been involved in Ramsey is for Everyone (RIFE), where he assists individuals with special needs participating in sports clinics and other fun events. He has also been a substitute teacher for almost a year.

Currently, Matthew is in his Clinical Internship at Eric S. Smith Middle School in Ramsey, N.J., and he will graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in May 2024. 

After graduation, Matthew will then work towards obtaining his Master of Arts in Special Education by May 2025 while simultaneously working as a Phys Ed/Health teacher. 

Anthony Bertollo

Anthony Bertollo of Hawthorne, New Jersey is a Digital Filmmaking major and has maintained a 4.0 GPA. Anthony enjoys editing and writing as he feels both endeavors allow him to express his creativity and create projects he is proud of. 

At Ramapo, Anthony is an active member of the Cross Country and indoor/outdoor track and field team. Anthony loves to run, as he finds it incredibly therapeutic, and allows him to push himself beyond his limits. While participating in Cross Country at his previous institution, Anthony placed in the top seven at the NJCAA Regional Championships and was awarded First Team All-Region for this accomplishment.

Anthony has also been involved in off-campus activities, including the Boys and Girls Club of Hawthorne, New Jersey. At this organization, Anthony works as a summer camp counselor, supervising a group of young children, and planning fun activities for them to participate in throughout the day. Anthony truly enjoys working with children and hopes to continue this occupation for the foreseeable future.

After graduation, Anthony  plans on pursuing a career as either a cinematographer or screenwriter. No matter what career path he chooses, Anthony hopes that he can indulge in an occupation he will enjoy for years to come.

Anonymous

The recipient of this scholarship wishes to remain anonymous.

Hailey Drake

Hailey Drake is a senior Communication Arts major with a concentration in Global Communication and Media, as well as a Theater minor. She has a 3.7 GPA and has been on the Dean’s List every semester since her Freshman year. 

At Ramapo, Hailey is a part of the National Society of Leadership and Success and Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Honor Society. Hailey takes great pride in being the current President of both RCTV and Alpha Psi Omega, the Theater Honor Society. She is also heavily involved in the Theater Department. Over the four years, she has worked as an actor and video editor for several productions.

Hailey just finished a Public Relations Internship at Coyne PR working on the Hilton Hotel account. After graduation in May, Hailey hopes to make Public Relations a full-time career for luxury brands or theaters. 

​​Grace Velarde

​​Grace Velarde of Oakland, N.J. is a Contemporary Arts Contract major with a Computer Science minor. She has a 3.97 GPA and is a member of the Ramapo College Honors Program, Golden Key International Honour Society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and Alpha Lambda Delta.

At Ramapo, Grace has been active in several organizations and activities, including the Student Government Association as the Contemporary Arts School Senator, the Ramapo Admissions Student Ambassadors Program, and the Ramapo College Concert Band as an alto saxophone player.
Grace has also been involved in off–campus activities and organizations, including doing freelance work for Warner Music Group and working as a Web Design/Digital Marketing Intern with Career Transition Resources, LLC.

An accomplishment she is proud of is starting her own small business and art brand under the name Graceful Graphics in March 2020. She manages multiple social media accounts to showcase her art and music including her own website, Instagram, SoundCloud, Vimeo, TikTok, and Youtube. She is in the process of developing her portfolio, continuing to focus on growing her online presence.

Matthew Pluzsik

Matthew Pluzsik of Demarest, N.J. is an Information Technology Management major and a Business Analytics minor. He has a 3.9 GPA and has made the Dean’s List each semester at Ramapo.

 At Ramapo, Matthew has been active in the Peer Facilitation program as a third-year peer, where he helps new students adjust to college life. He is also the founder of the Ramapo Sports Club, which allows students to connect with one another based on their admiration of all sports across campus. 

Off-campus, Matthew serves as an intern at Network Doctor, where he has worked with technology and built strong relationships with clients for over a year.

Dawn Sy

Dawn Nadine Sy of Butler, N.J. is a junior Biology major in the Honors Program. She is a recipient of the Trustees Scholarship and has made the Dean’s List every semester. 

Over the past summer, Dawn was an Orientation Leader for the incoming first-year students. 

Currently, she leads as the Secretary of Commuter Affairs within SGA, Secretary of the United Asian Association, and co-leader in the Honors Development Program. She also works as the Student Manager of Commuter Affairs within the Center of Student Involvement. 

Dawn regularly donates blood for RedCross and Vitalant, and she volunteers at Valley Hospital. “In doing this, I fulfill part of my desire to help those who are medically in need,” she says. Dawn hopes  to continue her passion for helping others by pursuing a Physician Assistant license post-graduation.

Cassandra Farnung

Cassandra Farnung of Manahawkin, N.J. is a Biology major with a double minor in Psychology and Neuroscience. She currently has a 4.0 GPA, has been on the Dean’s list since her freshman year, and is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. She plans to attend graduate school to receive a Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy next fall.

At Ramapo, Cassandra is one of the co-presidents of the American Cancer Society on campus and Head of the Survivor Committee for Relay For Life. Cassandra is also the President of the National Society of Leadership and Success. She has also been a Peer Facilitator for three years in the Peer Facilitation program. 

“I am determined to make a difference in this world, whether it be smiling at a stranger or trying to reduce my carbon footprint – every act of kindness, no matter how small, is empowering and impactful,” says Cassandra. In addition to her on-campus community engagement and leadership roles, she also volunteers at a local Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in her town and plans to be a substitute aide after she graduates in December. 

Daniel Maher-Gurniak

Daniel Maher-Gurniak of Pearl River, N.Y. is a Mathematics major with minors in Political Science, and Music. He has a 3.78 GPA. Some of his academic honors include: Dean’s List every semester, membership in the Pi Mu Epsilon Mathematics Honor Society (serving as President), the Chi Alpha Epsilon Honor Society (serving as Publicist), and Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society.

At Ramapo, Daniel has been active in the Student Government Association, Peer Facilitation program, and the Ramapo College Admissions Office. Daniel has also been involved in off–campus activities and organizations, including NYPD With Arms Wide Open, Yedei Chesed Community Habilitation, and private tutoring.

Daniel is inspired to translate his passions and experiences into authentic change for the world. His interests and endeavors are rooted in inclusion, integration, and patriotism. Daniel’s future post-graduation plans are to be determined, but his mission remains the same: to leave a place more improved, more effective, and more inclusive than he found it.

Cheyenne Shannon

Cheyenne Shannon is a Communication Arts major with a concentration in Global Communications and Media. She has a 3.49 GPA and made the Dean’s List during Fall 2019 and Fall 2020. 

Cheyenne is a Ramapo Admission Student Ambassador and is President of the College Programming Board. She also works as the Student Programming Coordinator at the Center for Student Involvement.