Description
The Wilfredo Ramirez Jr Sundance Endowed Scholarship will be open to first-generation students from Camden and undocumented students in New Jersey. These two groups of students face various challenges in pursuing higher education. The scholarship will help alleviate the financial burden of school, as 66% of first-generation students and 71% of undocumented students have at least a part-time job. Therefore, it is important that such individuals be given the necessary resources to pursue such educations and show that true grit and determination can lead the way for so many others much like themselves to earn success in this world.
Donations are applied to...
The donations will go directly to the Wilfredo Ramirez Jr Sundance Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship will be given out every year to an undocumented student or first-generation student. The goal of the scholarship at the beginning is to give out one $1,000 scholarship to a student in this population-based on financial need. As an endowed scholarship, it will be a self-sustainable scholarship that will remain as a part of Rutgers Camden indefinitely, allowing the legacy of Wilfredo Ramirez Jr. to live on.
Personal Message
Wilfredo “Sundance” Ramirez was a brother of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity Incorporated at Rutgers University-Camden. Ramirez was born and raised in Camden where he dedicated himself to better the very city that gave him his upbringing. Unfortunately, Wilfredo Ramirez passed away in February of 2021 due to COVID-19, and he will be truly missed by all those he has impacted. Ramirez was a first-generation Latino college student at Rutgers Camden, a rare feat, especially during his enrollment in 1992. His drive for service and the betterment of the community ultimately drove him to join Lambda Theta Phi, the first Latin Fraternity in the entire nation. With similar and like-minded Latino men surrounding him, Ramirez and his brothers would make great strides towards empowering youth. One of his greatest initiatives, “Waking the Sleeping Giant”, was a program that invited High School Students to live at the Rutgers Dormitories over the summer in order to educate them about the importance of a college education. The impact that he made should not be forgotten. As a result, The Rutgers-Camden Lambda Theta Phi and the Immigrant Justice Association, a student organization on campus, have come together to honor his memory by carrying his torch forward in empowering students. This scholarship will uplift and support undocumented students from New Jersey and first-generation students from Camden, an often marginalized population to attain a college education. Wilfredo Ramirez was a first-generation college student from Camden, it is only fitting that his name and legacy continue to help those in similar situations, and perhaps inspire those to live a life of service as he did.
Why are donations necessary?
In order to fund the Wilfredo Ramirez Jr Sundance Endowed Scholarship, we need as much support as possible for our undocumented and first-generation students. For undocumented students, donations are especially necessary because they are not eligible for federal financial aid or grants. As an endowed scholarship, it will ensure that this marginalized group of students will continue to be supported indefinitely. An endowed scholarship is self-sustaining, and will only increase in value over time. However, in order for it to be endowed, it must be at minimum $25,000 in order for the money to distribute $1,000 each year. Not only would you be helping two nationally recognized organizations to assist their intersecting communities, but the birth of such a scholarship will help first-generation students obtain the education of their dreams.