Anel Mercado

Anel Mercado of Pompton Lakes, N.J. is a first-generation Nursing major pursuing a certificate in Spanish for Health Care and Human Services Professionals. She has a 3.85 GPA.

At Ramapo, she has been active in several organizations including the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF), where she participates in workshops and conferences focused on personal development and academic success, the Nursing Student Organization, where she actively participates in events and connects with other nursing students, fostering professional growth, and the Organization of Latino Unity (OLU), where she has participated in cultural events to connect with her Hispanic roots and foster a sense of community.

Anel has also been involved in off-campus activities including volunteering for community service initiatives such as organizing food drives, teaching elementary students about nature, and creating a costume and candy drive for low-income families during Halloween. She has also worked at Cedar Crest Senior Living, where she engages closely with elderly residents to enhance their dining experience and foster meaningful connections.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Anel plans to pursue a master’s degree to become a Nurse Practitioner and work to improve healthcare equity, focusing on bridging language barriers for patients. She attributes her achievements to the unwavering support and love of her family, who have been instrumental in her success and determination to reach her goals.

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Catalina Cucaz

Catalina Cucaz of Belleville, N.J. is a Nursing major. She has a 3.74 GPA. Catalina has made the Dean’s List every semester so far, and she hopes to continue doing so.

At Ramapo, she has been active in several organizations including the First Generation Tri-Alpha Honor Society, the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, and the Organization of Latino Unity as their Secretary. She has also volunteered as a Legacy Leader for the First Generation “Legacies in the Making” Program, aiding incoming freshmen with their transition into college. She also volunteers at other club and organization’s events to support and uplift others. She has also been featured on Student Spotlight on the social media pages of Ramapo College. Catalina hopes to continue making waves with the Organization of Latino Unity and spread positivity while promoting community on campus.

Off campus, Catalina is currently employed at Spring Lake Day Camp where she will be a Nurse’s Assistant for Summer 2025.

Her future plans consist of graduating with her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing and fulfilling her dream of caring for children by becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

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Shubhashree Shahi

Shubhashree Shahi of Lalitpur, Nepal is a junior majoring in Biochemistry with a minor in Public Health. She is also part of the College Honors Program.

At Ramapo, she has actively contributed to campus life by serving as a Senator-at-large in the Student Government Association (SGA), as the Vice President of the International Student Organization, as a Resident Assistant, and as a student employee for the Center for Student Involvement, the Biology Preparation lab, and Events and Conferences. Additionally, she works in Dr. Reich’s Neuroscience Lab.

After graduation, Shubhashree plans to pursue a career in research and healthcare. She aims to dedicate herself to improving the sexual and reproductive health status of women in Nepal.

Sadikshya Shrestha

Sadikshya Shrestha of Nepal is a Mathematics major with a Computer Science minor with a 3.8 GPA. She was also a part of undergraduate research at the Florida International University, and she has received scholarships to attend the prestigious Grace Hopper Celebrations and Harvard We Code Conferences.

At Ramapo, she has been active in several organizations including serving as a student assistant at Ramapo College ITS, as a Peer Advisor at the Cahill Career Center, where she helps students build their resumes and cover letters, and as a Resident Assistant where she helps students navigate campus life, resolve conflicts, and access academic and personal support resources. Sadikshya has also held the position of the President for RCNJ Math Club, and she was the Public Relations Officer and Freshman Representative of the International Student Organization.

Magdalena Nikolova

Magdalena Nikolova of Varna, Bulgaria is an international student majoring in Biology with a minor in Neuroscience. She has a 3.95 GPA.

At Ramapo, she has been active in several activities including serving as the manager of the Neurodevelopmental Laboratory, the Treasurer of the Chemistry club, and a tutor at the STEM Center for Biology and Genetics. She dedicates most of her free time to her research projects in neurophysiology and genetics. Outside of her academics, Magdalena nurtures her creativity through her passion for music as part of Ramapo’s Jazz Ensemble which she believes complements her scientific curiosity and discipline.

She has also been involved in off-campus activities including her volunteering at the Tenafly Nature Center and the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City.

Looking ahead, Magdalena aims to pursue a career in Research & Development focusing on clinical research. She aspires to contribute to developing innovative prosthetics and interventions for neurodegenerative and genetic diseases such as spinal cord injuries, cancer, and Alzheimer’s.

Katia Flosa

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

At Ramapo, Katia has been active in several organizations, such as serving as a Resident Assistant at the Overlook where she facilitates a positive and stigma-free community. In addition, she is part of the Honors Program where she is able to dive deeper into interdisciplinary courses. She is also a Nursing Student Organization executive-board member, where she organizes community service events related to health. Katia joined the National Society of Leadership and Success, through which she continues to strengthen her leadership skills. Lastly, Katia is a nursing junior class representative where she is able to advocate and be the voice of her peers.

Katia has also tutored elementary school kids in her hometown district and is a Physical Therapy Aide at All Care Physical Therapy, where she is able to assist in rehabilitating patients. In her hometown she volunteers at her local food pantry, where is able to give back to those in need. Katia believes that the capability to speak different languages will facilitate her working with different cultures as a Nurse and would like to study abroad preferably in Spain so that she can perfect her Spanish.

After graduation, Katia is planning on being a Registered Pediatric Nurse and work in a hospital in an urban setting where she can apply her language skills. While working, Katia aspires to attend graduate school so she can attain her Nurse Practitioner’s License in Pediatrics.  

Anonymous

The recipient of this scholarship wishes to remain anonymous.

Tina Nosrati

Tina Nosrati is an international student majoring in Computer Science. She has a 4.0 GPA.

Tina studied applied mathematics before attending Ramapo, and has three years of industry experience as a Data Scientist and Project Coordinator. She is planning to study her master’s degree in Data Science.

At Ramapo, she has been involved in the Data Science Club and Hiking Club. “I am beyond grateful for receiving this special scholarship.”

Jestina Brown

Jestina Brown of Paterson, N.J. is a Biology Major with a 4.00 GPA.

At Ramapo, Jestina is a part of several organizations and activities, including the Honors College, Educational Opportunity Fund Program and Black Student Union.

Jestina’s plan after graduation is to attend medical school. “I plan to give back to my community by one day putting interactive academic programs and scholarships into schools. I want to be the change I want to see in my community.” Jestina is originally from a small town in Jamaica, where she lived until she was 13 years old. 

“My goals are to become a neurosurgeon and work with Médecins Sans Frontières, an organization that provides medical assistance to those affected by disasters, conflict, epidemics, etc,” says Jestina.

Shreeja Dahal

Shreeja Dahal is a senior majoring in Computer Science and Data Science. She has held numerous leadership positions on campus including the Vice-President of the International Student Organization. She also works as a Helpdesk Technician and Lab Assistant in ITS.

She plans to continue her education and receive a Master in Data Science after Ramapo.

Laila Khatib

Laila Khatib of Palisades Park, N.J. is a Nursing major with a GPA of 3.8. She has earned  Dean’s List every semester since enrollment.

Along with being a part of a very rigorous Nursing program, she is also is an Anatomy and Physiology tutor. Additionally, she is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society.

Following completion of the BSN program, Laila aspires to return back to school to receive her Master’s Degree, and hopes to become a Nurse Practitioner in the future.

Vimla Chandrika

Wanting to become a nurse since childhood, Vimla Chandrika of Piscataway, N.J. is a Nursing major. She has a 3.5 GPA and consistently makes the Dean’s List.

Vimla is involved with Ramapo Admissions Student Ambassadors and the Nursing Student Organization. She is also the Secretary for Students of Caribbean Ancestry, which she joined to embrace her own cultural identity and help others do the same. 

For over 6 years, Vimla has been involved with Girl Up, an organization funded by the United Nations to support women in developing countries. “I’ve been a women’s rights advocate my entire life and strive to help as many women achieve their dreams as possible,” she says. 

Vimla hopes to earn her master’s degree from Ramapo and become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

Suvekshya Shrestha

“I believe that knowledge is power and education is the ultimate key to bring positive changes into the world. My motto in life is to keep learning and growing as a person,” says Biology major Suvekshya Shrestha. Suvekshya plans to continue her education in graduate school and conduct research on medicine, drug discovery and public health in her home country of Nepal.

She was awarded the CRC Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award in Spring 2019 and has earned Dean’s List consistently. She also works as a student aide at the Registrar’s Office and a Biology tutor at the Math and Science Tutoring Center. Suvekshya has also been active in several organizations on campus, including the International Student Organization (ISO), Chemistry and Bio-Chemistry (CBC) Club and Naach Dance Club.

She has a 3.89 GPA.

Vanesa Getseva

Vanesa Getseva has been recognized for her academic achievements, including Best Paper award from IEEE at Columbia University, Most Outstanding Exhibit in Computer Science from YALE Science and Engineering Association from her home country of Bulgaria, and Dean’s List status at Ramapo.

The Computer Science major and Bioinformatics minor hails from a town called Shumen, and has a 3.89 GPA.

At Ramapo, Vanesa has been part of several organizations, including the Theoretical and Applied Science Research Honors, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and International Student Organization. Vanesa has been actively conducting research in close collaboration with Ramapo professors Dr. A. N. Kumar, Dr. S. Frees and Dr. P. S. Bagga.

She has worked as a Research Intern on a team of software developers, bioinformaticians and statisticians for the Genome Open-source Breeding informatics initiative at Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University.