Ossiris Garcia

Ossiris Garcia of Paterson N.J. is a Biology major with a Public Health minor. She has a 3.83 GPA. She has also received various scholarships and opportunities while at Ramapo.

At Ramapo, she has been active in several organizations including the Tri-Alpha Honor Society, Leaders in Service, and Sophomores Advancing in Leadership Program.

She has also been involved in off-campus activities including the NJ Governor’s Hispanic Fellows Program Class of 2024, and she recently had an internship at the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services. Recently, she attended a trip to the NJ State House in Trenton. As a result, Ossiris is determined to establish herself as a leader both on and off campus.

After graduation, Ossiris plans to attend medical school to become a pediatrician and the first doctor in her family.

Victor Oluwagbemi

Victor Oluwagbemi of Pemberton, N.J. is a Law and Society Major with a Sports Management minor. He has a 3.8 GPA.

At Ramapo, Victor has been active in several organizations like the Student Government Association as current President, a programmer for the College Programming Board, and a member of the Student Leaders Council.

Off-campus, Victor interns at family law firm Laterra and Hodge.

While at Ramapo, he has received the Sophomore & Junior Outstanding Leadership Awards and the Presidential Scholarship. He plans on using his different roles on campus to better the student experience through a variety of programs and initiatives.

In the future, Victor plans on going to law school with a desire to focus on corporate law.

Alexa Vazquez

Alexa Rey Vazquez of Totowa, N.J.is a Nursing major with a Sports Management minor. She has a 3.9 GPA, and she is in the College Honors Program.

At Ramapo, Alexa has been active in several organizations and activities, including Nursing Student Organization, American Cancer Society/Relay For Life, and Civic and Community Engagement Center/ChangeBuilders, where she volunteered with MEVO Fresh Roots Farm.

Alexa has also been involved in off-campus activities and organizations, including Group Mission Trips with her church youth group and the Ice Vault Arena, as she works in the front office, while helping manage the Ramapo College Ice Hockey team. 

Overall, she is proud of her love in serving others and God, including painting houses for those in need, her want of others to know her goal of living her life to give to others, and her plans to become a Registered Nurse, and, eventually, go off to Graduate school to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

Anonymous

The recipient of this award would like to remain anonymous.

Jason Guzman

Jason Guzman of Teaneck, NJ is a Business Administration major with a minor in Marketing and a GPA of 3.9.

Jason has had several internships and jobs outside of his coursework, including as Social Media Director of the Teaneck International Film Festival where he was involved in managing the marketing and event logistics, as well as celebrity panelists. He also volunteered for the New York Film Festival, which exposed him to the inner workings of a huge film centered event.  That experience led him to an internship at Allied Integrated Marketing, one of the largest PR firms in the movie industry.  Jason believes that “an opportunity is ultimately useless unless reacted to appropriately, and have pledged myself to always do so whenever possible.”

Dawn Wilkenfeld

Dawn Wilkenfeld of Springfield, N.J. is majoring in both psychology and education. She has a 3.76 grade point average. Dawn was inducted into Golden Key Honor Society, the National Society for Collegiate Scholars, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society, and Psi Chi Honor Society.
At Ramapo, Dawn has been active in several organizations and activities, including Ramapo Admissions Student Ambassadors, the College Programming Board, and the Residence Hall Council.
Dawn has also been involved in off–campus activities and organizations, including the Student Literacy Corps whose main focus is to prevent illiteracy and empower students. Through reciprocal learning, she tutored urban education students in Paterson, N.J.

Catherine Gilio

Catherine Gilio of Boonton, NJ is an Information Systems major and an Italian minor, which she decided to pursue after completing a study abroad program to Italy. She is a project leader for Enactus, an event co-chair for Relay for Life, serves on the E-board of Colleges Against Cancer and is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the Business Honor Society. Catherine also works for the College’s Information Technology Services Help Desk. She credits her involvement with Relay for Life as allowing her to learn to effectively manage a large group of volunteers and gain time management skills. She is proud of her work with Enactus and having worked closely with the clients of Oasis: A Heaven for Women and Children. Catherine plans to pursue a career in Information Systems management and to become a project leader. She has a 3.90 grade point average.

Colleen Jones

Colleen Jones of Cranford, N.J. is a nursing major. She has a 3.504 grade point average.

At Ramapo, Colleen has been active in several organizations and activities, including the Nursing Student Organization and Relay for Life. She also is an active member of Sigma Delta Tau where she served as the Vice President of Scholarship for the 2014-2015 terms.

Colleen has also been involved in off –campus activities, including teaching special needs children how to swim at Children’s Specialized Hospital, volunteering with the Girl Scouts of Washington Rock Council and teaching handicapped individuals how to fish with the Newark Bait and Fly Casting Club.

The scholarship I received will help open the door for new opportunities in my future.

Michael Bendett

“Scouting was my start to service and my realization that I always want to help the community as well as other people in need,” says Michael Bendett of Glen Rock, NJ. Michael is a senior majoring in Nursing and has earned a 3.68 grade point average. Michael is a volunteer with the Glen Rock Ambulance Corps. He works as an Emergency Department Technician at Chilton Hospital, and as the EMT and skills director at Camp Yaw Paw. Michael plans to earn a master’s degree in Nursing and work either as a nurse practitioner or certified registered nurse anesthetist.

Steven Wiltbank

Steven Wiltbank was elected Class Representative of the Class of 2013 in his freshman year. Now a junior, he is the president of the Student Government Association. Steven is majoring in Spanish Language Studies with a minor in Latin American Studies. He is also pursuing courses toward Teacher Certification in Spanish. “My honors independent research project will focus on effective ways of instruction in a foreign language, since learning a foreign language is very important in today’s globalized society,” he says. Steven has earned a 3.78 grade point average. He is from Belford, NJ.

Receiving this scholarship will help contribute to my education at Ramapo because it will help in costs associated with study abroad. I have a strong passion for exploring the world and becoming a more appreciative student in such a diverse world.