Cranford, NJ – UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ student Kelly Constante Yanzapanta, of Plainfield, has been selected as a Kaplan Leadership Program (KLP) scholar. She is one of only 12 students recognized in the tri-state area for this leadership opportunity. The KLP targets students at two-year schools who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership potential, and financial need.
Constante Yanzapanta, a first-generation college student, is pursuing an associate degree in business. She is actively involved in numerous clubs and programs at the College, serving as Committee Leader of Public Relations for Phi Theta Kappa, Vice President of the Humane Society Club, and Secretary of the Teachers of Tomorrow Club. She also helps her peers as a tutor in UCNJ’s Academic Learning Center. Over the summer, Constante Yanzapanta participated in Princeton University’s Transfer Scholars Initiative (TSI), a highly selective program that enables exceptional students from community colleges to take courses at Princeton free of charge.
This spring, Constante Yanzapanta will graduate from UCNJ and continue her education in anthropology. She looks forward to exploring her many passions, including nonprofit work that supports students and immigrants, as well as opportunities in business.
“Congratulations to Kelly for being selected as a Kaplan Leadership scholar. Her academic achievements, involvement on campus, and continued pursuit of success embody the spirit of UCNJ,” said UCNJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin. “The College strives to provide an environment where students like Kelly are supported and encouraged to pursue transformative opportunities such as the Kaplan Leadership Program. Her accomplishments remind us that a high-quality education opens doors and changes lives. We know she will continue to make us proud as she moves forward in her journey.”
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 10 community colleges in the country as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. To learn more about UCNJ, visit www.ucc.edu.
For more information on the Kaplan Leadership Scholar program, go to https://www.kaplanedfoundation.org/
