杏吧原创

April 21, 2026

by Elizabeth Mendicino 鈥�26

The Ramapo College of New Jersey Honors Program not only pushes students to excel academically, but furthers the liberal arts principles by developing the whole person to this same higher standard. Through emphasis on civic engagement, curiosity, service, and leadership, honors students are cultivated into the ethical changemakers the college covets.

College Honors Program students present research nationwide, serve as student leaders across campus, are accepted to competitive graduate programs, and go on to be well-rounded critical thinkers in their chosen careers.

Scholarship and fellowship programs are increasingly taking notice of Ramapo honors students, awarding Roadrunners with some of the most prestigious scholarships and fellowships in the country.

Franco Miyashiro 鈥�27, a neuroscience and biochemistry major from Pompton Lakes, NJ, made history this year by being the first-ever Roadrunner to be awarded the Goldwater Scholarship, one of the oldest and most prestigious undergraduate STEM scholarships in the United States.

Honors student Franco Miyashiro ’27 was selected for the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship.

And Political Science Major Sophia Kopreski 鈥�26, of Vineland, NJ, was just named Ramapo鈥檚 second New York City Urban Fellow 鈥� a highly competitive policy-focused nine-month fellowship. Kopreski is following in the footsteps of Stefanie Viera 鈥�25, a history and humanities and global studies major, who last year was named Ramapo鈥檚 first New York City Urban Fellow. Viera was also awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to serve as an English teaching assistant in Colombia, but turned it down in favor of the fellowship.

At Ramapo, honors students like Miyashiro, Kopreski and Viera, begin their college careers in designated Honors First Year Seminar (FYS) courses, where they are challenged to a higher level and integrated into a community of honors students with similar interests. Their Peer Facilitators 鈥� upperclassmen who help first-year students immerse themselves into the campus culture and adapt to college life 鈥撀� are also honors students. They help first-year honors students navigate the college as individuals oriented to service and academic excellence.

Honors student Stephanie Viera 鈥�25 was awarded a New York City Urban Fellowship.

From day one, the innovative FYS program and supportive peer facilitators provide a foundational community, and help honors students to network early and effectively.

鈥淭hrough the honors program, I met two of my best friends, along with some seniors that I became very close with,鈥� said Law and Society Major Ava Cicero-Johnson 鈥�27, of Colts Neck, NJ. 鈥淭he very first class, first year seminar, helped me foster relationships that I will keep for a lifetime. We kept taking the same classes with each other as well as the honors events that we attend together, and it grew into a beautiful friendship.鈥�

Cicero-Johnson is an accomplished student leader, serving as president of the Phi Alpha Delta pre-law fraternity, a senator-at-large within the Student Government Association, and editor-in-chief of the Ramapo Journal of Law and Society. The honors community supported her development as a leader and as a scholar, as she was awarded with Ramapo鈥檚 School of Social Sciences and Human Services Undergraduate Book Prize for Academic Excellence for 2026, an award given to students of high academic achievement.

Through the honors general education courses, honors students further network with one another and expand their worldviews. Through courses such as Social Science Inquiry, Values and Ethics, Global Awareness, and Studies in Arts and Humanities, students鈥� outlooks are challenged and their analysis skills are taken to the next level. These courses are intricately and intentionally designed to provide scholars with an education that directly reflects the core liberal arts tenets, while also pushing them to work harder and think like future leaders.

鈥淚t is a great pleasure to work with our very talented, eclectic group of Honors students,鈥� said Honors Program Director Dr. Erin Augis. 鈥淥ur goal in Honors is to offer courses to students who are seeking an extra challenge, and to guide our students in research as preparation for graduate school and the workforce, as well as to offer our students many cultural opportunities to gather as a community.鈥�

Dr. Erin Augis is the director of Ramapo’s Honors Program.

Augis and Program Coordinator Donna Schweizer work together to provide fun and informative events for honors students, from Docufilm Fridays to various speaker series.

鈥淚 like the opportunities that it gives the honors community, especially with the opportunity to get together to watch the films and documentary and further discuss it, widening our perspective,鈥� said Sebastian Herrera 鈥�29, of New Milford, NJ. 鈥淔urthermore, I think within our classes, everybody is extremely eager to learn more and broaden their worldview.鈥�

As a student athlete on the NCAA Division III team and a student leader, Herrera prioritizes programs and courses that bolster his education as much as possible. Ramapo鈥檚 interdisciplinary mission allows the Law and Society major to excel both academically and in his extracurriculars.

To cap off their experiences at Ramapo, honors seniors design their own independent studies with a faculty sponsor. These projects range in discipline, and allow students to pursue interesting and interdisciplinary research or creative projects.

Projects have included research that combines one鈥檚 personal experiences with their major, such as: Biology Major Christiane Ezgilioglu鈥檚 鈥�25 paper Understanding Transgenerational Trauma in the Armenian Diaspora; a podcast from a band created by Music Industry Major Miles Dellaha 鈥�23; and an analysis of Antarctic politics from Kiely Paris-Rodriguez 鈥�24, who majored in Political Science and also had a specialized Social Science contract major. A contract major is designed by the student with their faculty advisor to reflect the specific field of study they are interested in.

The culmination of the independent studies is the Honors Symposium each spring, wherein students are awarded their Honors medals for graduation and have the opportunity to present their projects. The 18th Annual Honors Symposium took place this year on April 15, where 22 honors seniors and their research projects were celebrated.

Honors students presented their research at the 18th Annual Honors Symposium.

For more information on the Honors program, please visit the Honors Program Website, or contact Director Erin Augis at eaugis@ramapo.edu.