Marlene Shepper Cooperman ’63 Memorial Fund

For summer study in France—Open to all classes

Established in 2013 by Barry S. Cooperman and Jacqueline A. Cooperman, this gift will make possible the opportunity for a current student to experience French culture. The purpose of the fund is to provide financial assistance, typically $5,000, for students who are enrolled in a summer language and cultural study program, or are conducting research relating to their studies. Preference will be given to students who have not previously spent time in France. This stipend is to provide for living and study expenses for a summer (8–10 weeks) in France.

The Marlene Shepper Cooperman ’63 Memorial Fund celebrates Marlene’s passion for France and French culture. Her French professors at Vassar and her junior year abroad were transformative experiences, leading to a lifelong relationship with France. While Marlene won awards for her mastery of the French language and literature, her love of France was far beyond cerebral, extending to how she lived her daily life. Marlene spent some very happy periods living in France with her husband and children. In the United States, Marlene worked with French-speaking immigrants as an immigration attorney and was deeply involved in the Institute for French Culture and Technology at the University of Pennsylvania. Happily for her family and friends, Marlene’s zeal for French culture also influenced her approach to entertaining, and she made countless delicious meals, bringing those she loved a joie de vivre that she first experienced as a 19-year-old junior year abroad student. Marlene’s family hopes that this award will allow current and future Vassar students to savor time in France as Marlene did.

Campus Deadline is March 25, this includes all letters of recommendation.

Use the Recommendation Registration Form to register two people to serve as your referees. One letter of recommendation must be from a Vassar faculty member. You must register your writers before you submit your application and inform them that the letters are due by the campus deadline.
Download the Budget Worksheet and complete it prior to completing your application. You will need it when you are ready to submit.
Complete the Marlene Shepper Cooperman ’63 Memorial Fund application and submit it by the campus deadline.

Please note that the awarding of a fellowship does not automatically mean that you will be granted Vassar credit for the program you attend. You must go through the approval process for the transfer of credits. For more information speak to the department chair in the respective area.

For Applicants: You must submit your application through the online system as indicated above. Please note that you cannot save information in the application and return to it at a later date. You’ll need a transcript with your fall grades included so you won’t be able to submit the application until mid-January, the earliest. You should save your work in a separate document and enter it all at once when you are ready to submit.

For Letter Writers: Candidates should register their references through the online application. Once registered, writers will receive a link to this form Letter of Recommendation Submission Form. If you haven’t received an email please follow up with the applicant to ensure that you have been registered to write on his/her behalf. You may access this form at any time through this site, however, you cannot save information and return to the form at a later date.

It is your responsibility to keep the fellowships office informed of changes and updates regarding your anticipated study. The Cooperma Fellowship selection Committee will make all decisions regarding the final awarding of the fellowships. Decisions should be announced in early March.

All arrangements in connection with the project including appropriate health insurance, travel and housing are the responsibility of the Cooperman Fellow. Vassar College is not responsible for any physical or mental injury, illness or property loss sustained by a Fellow during the course of his or her fellowship. All Fellows will submit a report outlining the summer’s work to the Office for Fellowships by September 8.

Recipients:

Summer 2015

Julie Byrnes ’17, Rutgers Summer in Paris

Summer 2016

Ruby Pierce ’16, Franco-American Vocal Academy in Periguex

Summer 2018

Hyun Ji (Tammy) Jung ’19