Kevin Vallejo and Ayden Reed, both underclassmen in the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program at Ramapo College of New Jersey, were recognized on April 29 with the EOF Emerging Leaders Award during the college’s annual EOF Month proclamation ceremony.
The award is given each April to first- and second-year EOF scholars who show strong leadership qualities and go beyond expectations as they adjust to college life. Vallejo, a Data Science major from Passaic, co-founded a chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers at Ramapo and is working to form Eden Garden Collective. Reed, a double major in Political Science and Law and Society from Kearney, co-founded the Latinx Pre-Law Society and recently became vice president of the Student Government Association.
Vallejo said about his experience with EOF: “There are many ways the EOF program impacted me; every staff member in the EOF office is truly family to me. I couldn’t imagine the person I would’ve been growing to be if it wasn’t for the constant support, mentoring and motivation from the staff to stay resilient and keep going. From a schedule change to a simple hug and a talk about life, EOF is there for me every step of the way.” He added that earning this award means much more than recognition: “Earning the EOF Emerging Leader Award means so much to me because not only am I getting recognized for the hard work I’ve been putting in, but I got to speak about how I feel when it comes to making Ramapo a better place for future generations to come.”
Reed described how joining Ramapo felt welcoming from his first visit: “I chose to attend Ramapo because it felt welcoming even when I just came to visit on a tour. I knew Ramapo would give me the chance to grow academically and personally.” On receiving his award he said: “Earning the EOF Emerging Leader Award means a lot to me because it shows that my hard work and growth have been recognized. It reminds me that you are not alone in anything you do and there will always be someone supporting you.”
Since its start in 1968, New Jersey’s Educational Opportunity Fund programs have helped residents facing economic or educational challenges gain access to higher education through services such as advising, mentoring, academic support programs, tutoring, alumni connections, summer jobs opportunities as well as networking events.
Both Vallejo—who plans on entering business analytics—and Reed—an aspiring attorney—say their experiences with EOF have shaped their leadership journey at Ramapo College.
