CRANFORD, NJ – Two UCNJ students have been selected to receive the inaugural Margolies Family Transfer Scholarship. Awarded through the Union County College Foundation, this transformational scholarship was established by the Margolies family and provides two UCNJ graduates with $25,000 per year to help them complete their four-year degrees after transferring to the selective institution of their choice. This scholarship aims to alleviate the financial barriers that hinder academic aspirations.
In order to be eligible, applicants must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.75; demonstrate financial need through having completed the FAFSA/NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application; and be involved on campus in extracurricular activities, community service, leadership roles, or other forms of engagement. In order to receive the scholarship for the second year, the student must maintain at least a 3.3 GPA at their transfer institution.
The two UCNJ students selected this year are Myrvens Sylvestre, a computer science major from Roselle, and Nicole Resende Lucena, an engineering major from Union Township. Both students are spring 2024 UCNJ graduates. Sylvestre will be transferring to Claremont McKenna College in California, one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Resende Lucena will be transferring to Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey.
“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of the Margolies family. With this scholarship, they are investing in the Union County community by helping ensure that finances are not a barrier for students to attend elite institutions. Myrvens and Nicole have shown exceptional promise, and we are excited to see what the future holds for them. With the rising costs of higher education, UCNJ graduates make the financially sound decision to start at community college and then transfer,” stated UCNJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.
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 and extracurricular activities. UCNJ provides many experiential learning opportunities such as access to a Bloomberg Business Center, Innovation Center, and Student Research hub. Additionally, students at UCNJ attend one of the top 10 community colleges in the country for 2025 as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. To learn more, visit www.ucc.edu.
