College
Inspired by Students鈥 Determination,
a Vision for Giving is Created
By Diane Couzens |聽 Fall 2025
In March 2025, 69色情视频 announced a transformative gift鈥$4 million from longtime supporters and friends of 69色情视频, Susan and Nick Vallario鈥攖he largest one-time gift in the college鈥檚 history. Half of the gift established the Susan and Nick Vallario Endowment for Presidential Scholarships, fueling the existing merit-based scholarship program designed to attract the brightest minds in New Jersey to study at Ramapo.
The Vallarios are easily recognized across campus by students, faculty and staff. Susan, who has served on the board of trustees for ten years and is concluding her final year as chair, is just as comfortable leading a board of trustees meeting and offering remarks to a crowd of thousands at commencement as she is quietly observing a student research symposium or Student Government Association meeting. Nick can be frequently found in the classroom as a Friend of Ramapo, or chatting up a faculty member about their recent publication. You only need to meet them once for them to remember your name. They are both curious, humble and down-to-earth, sharing counsel and advice with everyone from college leadership to first-year students, serving and engaging with the entire community and unassumingly investing in student-centered initiatives. The Vallarios lead by example, and this gift is no different. They hope that others will be inspired to follow their lead. Susan commented on the gift: 鈥淭he ultimate goal is to help future-proof Ramapo for generations to come by inspiring future generations of students and donors to emulate this endowment-building model.鈥
鈥淭he ultimate goal is to help future-proof Ramapo for generations to come by inspiring future generations of students and donors to emulate this endowment-building model.鈥
鈥 Susan Vallario
Susan articulated their view on higher education: 鈥淣ick and I have long believed in the transformative power of higher education in general and 69色情视频 in particular. One of the key values of higher education is that it prepares students to be better, more engaged citizens who contribute to society as a whole.鈥
She reflected, 鈥淣either of us received scholarships during our educational journeys. We are inspired by the determination of Ramapo鈥檚 students to succeed despite the many challenges they face, so our purpose in providing scholarships is always to encourage and help our high-performing students seek success right here in New Jersey. Our gifts are designed to serve as a model for growing Ramapo鈥檚 endowment with targeted programmatic, innovative and student-centered funding. We hope this new endowment for Presidential Scholarships reflects the critical importance of understanding, engaging with and giving back to one鈥檚 community.鈥
Susan and Nick Vallario
The Vallarios have a laugh at the annual Distinguished Citizens Gala.
Susan Vallario and Student Trustee Sarah Glisson converse at a board meeting.
According to Anthony Dovi 鈥05, director of admissions, the Presidential Scholarship Program at 69色情视频 began about 25 years ago. 鈥淭he scholarship鈥檚 genesis was to attract the highest achieving high school students to enroll at Ramapo. It is the most prestigious merit-based award offered by 69色情视频 through the Office of Admissions, generally to students within the top 5% of their high school class who have successfully worked through a rigorous academic curriculum. Coupled with their extracurricular and leadership activities, it draws the best and brightest to make their impact at 69色情视频.鈥
He went on to say, 鈥淭he students who study at Ramapo with this award bring a diverse set of experiences, both academic and personal, to our community. They are student leaders who immerse themselves and their talents into Ramapo and create a bold undergraduate experience as they prepare for graduate school or the workforce.鈥
Presidential Scholars can be found in every major and school at Ramapo, and nearly 70% of alumni Presidential Scholars still reside in New Jersey after graduation鈥攄emonstrating the program鈥檚 success in fostering ethical, empathetic, inclusive and responsible leaders for the state.
Valerie Rivera 鈥28 reads her original work to the Vallarios at the announcement ceremony.
Valerie Rivera 鈥28, a Presidential Scholar hailing from Butler, N.J., was part of the private gift announcement ceremony. 鈥淩amapo was the first school I toured in high school. Everyone was so nice, and it seemed like there were a lot of opportunities; it was my top choice school since that tour,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t was amazing when I found out I had received the scholarship. It was the first day of winter break my senior year in high school. I had been out with friends, and after getting home late, I decided to check my email for some reason. I saw the email, and my jaw was on the floor. I woke my mom up, and she sprang out of bed. After that, there was no question that I鈥檇 be going to Ramapo. Even now, when I see the email applying the scholarship to tuition, it鈥檚 amazing. Sometimes I wonder, how did this happen to me? A lot of it is because of generous donors like the Vallarios.鈥
Rivera was in her second semester at Ramapo when she was asked to compose a poem for a few scholarship donors. She didn鈥檛 have much information to go on and wasn鈥檛 even told the donors鈥 names, but with her lifelong love of reading and writing, several years of working part-time in her hometown library and a major in English and literary studies with double-minors in creative writing and psychology, she responded with enthusiasm. About her work, she shared, 鈥淚 wanted to convey not only how important writing and storytelling are to our lives, but also that these two things wouldn’t be possible without a community to inspire and support us.鈥 In just one year at Ramapo, Rivera has built a community for herself, having met several friends from her First Year Seminar course, her volunteer work with the Women鈥檚 Center and as a member of the Literature Club.
Susan and Nick Vallario received a standing ovation for their generosity and commitment at the March 2025 State of the College Address.
When she submitted the poem, she was invited to a small event which turned out to be the private announcement ceremony about this historic gift. On March 12, she, along with several other Presidential Scholars who created unique artwork and poetry for the Vallarios, were present when the announcement was made. Moments later, Rivera read her poem to the Vallarios in front of the small group who had gathered for this momentous occasion.
At she concluded the reading, the group began applauding鈥攆or Rivera鈥檚 writing and for the Vallarios鈥 remarkable dedication鈥攁nd Susan and Nick applauded with them, as humble as ever, as true teammates of 69色情视频.