Cranford, NJ – UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ celebrated its Spring Commencement on May 18, 2026, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. An evening ceremony was held for more than 700 graduates who received their Associate in Science, Associate in Arts, and Associate in Applied Science Degrees, and Certificates.
UCNJ’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin served as the Presiding Officer and welcomed graduates and attendees to the celebration. The ceremony also featured remarks from graduating student Xavier Hernandez of Elizabeth, who was selected to serve as the student speaker for the event.
The Alumni Prize is presented to two graduates who have earned the highest GPAs and demonstrated leadership. This year, the Alumni Prize went to Libni Nivar Vizcaino from Roselle and Javon M. Scott from Hillside.
Established in memory of UCNJ alumni, the Abdallah-Thomas Memorial Award is presented to two graduating students who have at least a 3.25 GPA, have participated in college life activities and/or sports, and have completed community service. The recipients this year were Lara Demetrio from Cranford, Houmza Sheikh from Union, Maria Paula Ureña from Summit, and Katherine Jovel from Elizabeth. Ms. Jovel also received the 2026 Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, a highly competitive national award that helps recipients complete their bachelor’s degrees.
“On behalf of the UCNJ community, I would like to extend my congratulations to the Class of 2026. Whether continuing their education at four-year institutions or entering the workforce, our graduates leave UCNJ prepared to lead, contribute, and make a meaningful difference in their communities. As a semifinalist for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence and one of the top 25 community colleges in the nation, we are proud to celebrate students whose hard work and perseverance have led to this important milestone,” 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 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.
