Cara Mychelle Hirschman Memorial Scholarship

In the Spring of 1996, Ramapo College student Cara Mychelle Hirschman was ecstatic to learn that she had been named to the Dean’s List. That honor demonstrated a huge accomplishment for Cara, who had a learning disability. She spoke openly about the academic struggles she faced and the compensatory strategies she employed. Cara was an officer in the Marketing Club and a tutor for the Office of Specialized Services. She volunteered for the Special Olympics and held a coop position at Trucolor Lab as a customer service representative and product advisor. Tragically, only months after receiving her Dean’s List honors, Cara was killed in a car accident at age 21. The Eleanor B. Reiner Foundation, where Cara’s mother was a board member, provided annual scholarship gifts in Cara’s memory, and in 1997 made a substantial gift to permanently endow these awards.
Eligibility:
Students with learning disabilities
Full-time students
GPA of 2.9 or higher, or rank of top 2/5 for incoming first year students
NOT a member of Greek social life (APO service fraternity and Greek Honor societies are permitted)
Participation in community and/or campus activities
Priority given to prior recipients and students from South Brunswick High School