Cranford – Five UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ students recently visited Amherst College and Williams College in Massachusetts to explore transfer opportunities at two of the nation’s leading liberal arts institutions. The visit provided students with an opportunity to experience both campuses firsthand, learn more about the transfer process, and envision their academic futures beyond UCNJ. The students who participated in the visit were Matheus Abreu of Hillside, Isabella Betances of Linden, Giovana Kedezierski of Union, Stephane (Aura) Medina of Plainfield, and Izabelle Medina of Linden.
A highlight of the visit was reconnecting with two UCNJ alumni from the Class of 2026, Rosebertine Michel and Vincent Zeferino, who are now attending Amherst College and Williams College, respectively. Both alumni participated in the same trip just one year earlier, giving current students an opportunity to hear firsthand about their experiences transferring from UCNJ to highly selective four-year institutions. Mr. Zeferino received a Margolies Transfer Scholarship from the Union County College Foundation, helping support his continued education at the bachelor’s level.
“One of our priorities at UCNJ is ensuring that students have access to opportunities that will help them achieve their academic and career goals,” said UCNJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin. “These visits allow students to explore transfer opportunities at highly selective institutions beyond New Jersey and envision what is possible after graduation. It is especially rewarding to see our alumni now welcoming the next group of UCNJ scholars to their campuses.”
UCNJ is a public comprehensive community college that provides quality, affordable, accessible educational programs to the greater Union County region. It is the first of New Jersey’s 18 two-year colleges, serving both career-minded and transfer-oriented students since 1933. The College offers a wide variety of academic programs and extracurricular activities. UCNJ provides many experiential learning opportunities such as access to the Bloomberg Business Center, Innovation Center, and Student Research Lab Additionally, students at UCNJ attend one of the top community colleges in the country as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. To learn more about UCNJ, visit www.ucc.edu.