Partnerships through scholarships — either through endowment or permanent gifts or for a term of years — literally change lives.

Over the last five years, close to $2.8 million has been awarded to more than 700 students. Every year the need increases. In addition, approximately 90 percent of our students need some financial support in the form of scholarships or loans while also working full- or part-time.

Click here for a comprehensive listing of Scholarships and Awards offered through the University Foundation.

Partners who have a keen understanding of the importance of scholarship assistance are integral to the University’s ongoing ability to support talented individuals as they pursue success in their professional, personal, and civic lives.

Every year, at the University's annual scholarship reception, generous donors and scholarship recipients have an opportunity to meet each other.

William Paterson University Scholarship Recipients

Diana Cotto '11
Women’s and Gender Studies
College of Humanities and Social Sciences

While attending William Paterson University, Ms. Cotto consistently appeared on the Dean’s List and was inducted into Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society. She was involved in the National Society of Leadership and Success and the LGBTQA Safe Space Program, and was also a member of the Feminist Collective, Students Against Violence, and Chosen, the Gay/Straight Alliance.

In addition to being a full-time student, Ms. Cotto was also a full-time mother and employee while attending William Paterson. She decided to return to school in part to express to her son the importance of education. As the first in her family to complete an undergraduate degree, she says she wanted to instill in her son the same ambition, motivation, fulfillment, and sense of accomplishment she developed through the opportunities afforded to her at the University. William Paterson taught her to strive for success, no matter the circumstances.

Ms. Cotto’s mother, Carmen Cotto, and her son, Jordan Argueyes, have been a constant source of support. She says that it was with their help and that of the University and the scholarship program that she was able to thrive. Ms. Cotto is confident that her journey through life as a proud Latina woman will be one of achievement and success.

Deborah Lauren Kendrick '12
Elementary Education and Psychology
College of Education

The seventh of eight children, Ms. Kendrick was born in Paterson, but grew up in Passaic. Upon graduating high school, she relocated to California for twenty years. Though she worked primarily in the entertainment industry, she always found herself involved with children. She discovered her destiny when she returned to New Jersey to follow in the footsteps of her mother, Mazie Kendrick, a teacher for thirty-eight years.

After completing her associate’s degree at Chaffey Community College, Ms. Kendrick determined that William Paterson University would be the perfect fit for her. Majoring in elementary education and psychology, she graduates this year with certifications in elementary education and special education. She wants to teach students with learning disabilities and eventually become a school psychologist after earning master’s degrees in psychology and education.

Ms. Kendrick excels academically with a 3.49 GPA; her achievements include the Dean’s List and a certificate of academic excellence from the Africana-world studies faculty and staff association. She is also honored to be a Foundation and Alumni Scholarship recipient and a Legacy Scholar. In addition, her memberships in Psi Chi and Pi Lambda Theta keep her busy, and she is a dedicated Sunday school teacher who works closely with the youth ministry program.

Ms. Kendrick has come to love the William Paterson campus, its outstanding professors, the diverse population of students, and the staff who work to ensure that students succeed. She anticipates that the relationships she has formed on campus, and while studying abroad in Africa and Puerto Rico, will last far beyond her graduation. Ms. Kendrick says she is proof that even at forty-nine years of age, one’s goals are always obtainable if you work hard, stay focused, and remain committed.

Destinymarie Richardson '13
Communication, English
College of Arts and Communication

After graduating from high school in Jersey City, Ms. Richardson took advantage of the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) to enroll at William Paterson University, where she not only has become involved with the Student Government Association, but has served as both the vice president and executive vice president of the residence hall association. She has also been inducted into Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority Incorporated and the EOF Honor Society Beta Zetz Chapter, Chi Alpha Epsilon, and has been recognized in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

In addition to her academic and social activities, Ms. Richardson has held down two jobs on campus while maintaining a GPA above 3.0.  Significant sources of inspiration include her mother, Iris Alicea, and two high school English teachers, Mr. Conroy and Miss Cardounell. Her mother has always supported anything she set her heart on while her teachers, who opened her eyes to the world of language and literature, told her that she could become a great writer, and inspired her love of writing.

After graduation, Ms. Richardson would like to further her studies in communication and English. Later, she envisions pursuing a career with the United States Air Force or traveling the world in a public relations capacity. As an accomplished, young Latina woman, she would like to write books and develop an organization dedicated not only to influencing her sisters, but encouraging other urban women to pursue higher education. Ms. Richardson feels that William Paterson has allowed her to become a leader while preparing her to achieve even more in the future.

Laura Jo Rieske '12
Mathematics, Secondary Education
College of Science and Health

Ms. Rieske is a William Paterson University senior, and is working towards a dual degree in mathematics and secondary education. Having made the Dean’s List every semester, she has a 3.78 GPA. As a member of the Honors College, she has spent the past three semesters in the Honors cognitive science track. She is a student assistant in the Honors College office, a member of the Honors Club, and a resident assistant in the residence hall for Honors College students. She is also a member of the math honors society and a recipient of the Who’s Who Award.

Ms. Rieske believes that much of her achievement can be attributed to finding a perfect fit in William Paterson. During her college search, she knew that she needed to choose an institution dedicated to growth and excellence. After her first time on campus, she realized that the University was right for her.

Attending college was not only a personal fulfillment, but also a decision to set a positive example for her younger sister, Maryjane. Being a role model became important when her mother became a single mom. Ms. Rieske saw how much her mother worked to keep the family whole and happy, and her mother’s work ethic and dedication was reflected in her drive to succeed at school.

This past summer, Ms. Rieske interned in California’s Menlo College residence life department. As she looks forward to graduating in May 2012, she anticipates pursuing a master’s degree in higher education and administration where she hopes to use the knowledge and experiences gained at William Paterson to inspire other students to follow their dreams.

Nicholas Scheibner '11
Financial Planning
Cotsakos College of Business

Since he was a freshman, Mr. Scheibner fully involved himself in the William Paterson community. In his first year, he joined Sigma Pi Fraternity International and the Global Financial Services Institute’s (GFSI) student-managed portfolio program. As a sophomore, he received the Provident Bank Scholarship and an Alumni Scholar Award, which enabled him to not only focus on his studies, but to become class president and to work as a GFSI student technology consultant. This position helped him to become a junior analyst for the portfolio program.

In his junior year, he joined the newly accredited financial planning program. He also became a member of the career development committee of the New Jersey chapter of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) for which he informed fellow students about internships and careers.

His new major allowed Mr. Scheibner to travel to industry conferences where he got the idea to start a University student financial planning club. Due to a North Jersey Regional Chamber of Commerce Scholarship and a Unilever Scholarship, he was able to reduce his work hours, thereby helping him to found the William Paterson FPA student chapter – the first official one of its kind in the nation. It works directly with the state FPA to offer programs to University students, including a financial planning career day in which more than fifteen New Jersey firms participated.

In 2010, Mr. Scheibner and two other University students took first place in the FPA’s National Financial Planning Challenge in Denver. The team, one of eight finalists in the contest, presented their plan to a panel of judges composed of professionals and professor. Their victory over students from other top national university financial planning programs garnered $10,000 in scholarships for the University. Mr. Scheibner credits the Barron S. Wall Scholarship that allowed him to spend much of his summer and fall preparing for the competition.