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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.

Cranford, NJ – UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ’s Experiential Center for Education and Leadership (ExCEL) program has been named a Program to Watch by Excelencia in Education, an organization in higher education committed to accelerating Latino student success. UCNJ’s ExCEL program is funded by Title V of the Higher Education Act that provides grants to Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) to expand educational opportunities in higher education for Hispanic students.

Excelencia has identified UCNJ’s ExCEL program as a new, innovative initiative that is making a positive impact on the success of Latino students. ExCEL is recognized as a Program to Watch for the 2024 Examples of Excelencia. With this distinction, Excelencia acknowledges ExCEL’s potential to grow in practice and in evidence of effectiveness.

ExCEL is a program that supports first-generation Hispanic students pursuing their degrees in business, education, and graphic design at UCNJ. ExCEL students receive personal academic and career advising, internship opportunities, and experience UCNJ’s many on-campus destinations, including the Bloomberg Business Lab, a mock K-12 education classroom, and the Innovation Center.

“We are proud that ExCEL has been recognized as a Program to Watch by Excelencia, known for their leadership and support of Hispanic students in higher education. As a federally-designated HSI, the College is committed to strengthening Latino student success outcomes by providing intentional academic support, mentorship, and opportunities tailored to their needs. Students in the ExCEL program receive the tools they need to thrive in their academic careers and beyond,” stated UCNJ’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.

With the success of ExCEL, Title V has expanded the program to support students in data analytics, cybersecurity, and cyber forensics programs through increased career services, retention, academic programs, and professional development. The second Title V grant the College received is called Preparing UCNJ Students for Career Success.

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.

In early August, UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ hosted a four-day NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) program for college students from UCNJ, Essex County College, and Norwalk Community College (in Connecticut). The program focused on three missions that are designed to challenge and build student knowledge and skills by focusing on NASA’s mission goals, collaboration, and career pathways.

Participating scholars had the option to learn either online or in-person. With UCNJ hosting the program in-person, students were also able to take part in a robotics competition. Throughout the course of the program, students were asked to create an engineering design solution to perform a task, review and revise their resumes based on feedback from STEM professionals, summarize job shadowing experiences, learn how to apply STEM concepts to future engineering design challenges, and more. The Aerospace Scholars advanced their capabilities in STEM, which will help prepare them for better representation and service in STEM fields.

“UCNJ has been a NASA partner for a decade. We are honored to work with them to inspire the next generation of engineers. This program and the connections these scholars are making will change their lives and open doors for them after they graduate from UCNJ. Our goal is to provide these scholars with a first-class education with experiential learning opportunities. Moreover, we want to help them to graduate on-time and support them through their bachelor’s degree attainment to better position them for a related career with family-sustainable wage jobs,” stated UCNJ’s President Dr. Margaret McMenamin.

This is not the first time that UCNJ has participated in a NASA program. In 2020, the College was selected as one of only two community colleges that were chosen to participate in NASA’s Micro-G Next Challenge Artemis Program. For more information on the College’s NCAS program, go to https://www.ucc.edu/academics/academic-divisions/division-of-stem-science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics/stem-ncas/.

As New Jersey’s Community College, 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.

Cranford, NJ – The Union County College Foundation hosted the 9^th Annual Close the Gap Cocktail Reception on Wednesday, July 17 at Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth raising $60,000. This signature event supports the College’s strategic initiative to increase the graduation rates of African-American students, to effectively “close the achievement gap.” Since the launch of this campaign, the graduation rate of African American students has more than quintupled.

Each year, the Foundation recognizes leaders of distinction, with Angela Adderley receiving the 2024 Community Leader of the Year award and George L. Cooke III receiving the 2024 Frank Bolden Honorary Award. Ms. Adderley has been an entrepreneur in the fast-food industry for nearly 30 years and currently owns and operates ten McDonald’s franchises in New Jersey. Over the course of her career, she has received numerous awards and accolades, including the prestigious Ronald Award, Community Distinction Award, and most recently the Fred L. Turner Golden Arch Award.

George L. Cooke III has lived in Hillside for over 40 years and has maintained a connection to his community as a public servant, most recently as Councilman-At-Large. Mr. Cooke has been a member of the Hillside Scholarship Fund since 1986, the Lions Club since 2017, and as a trustee on the Union County College Foundation Board since 2017. He has been a tireless advocate for UCNJ students and has led several fundraising efforts to support the Close the Gap campaign.

“At UCNJ, student success and social justice are our priorities, and we believe that receiving a high-quality education is a transformative opportunity for our students. With nearly a decade of Close the Gap initiatives, the UCNJ community and our donors are committing to providing financial resources, mentorship, and opportunities for our African American students,” stated UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.

The Foundation launched the Close the Gap Campaign in 2015 and has raised approximately $500,000 to support student scholarships, emergency funding, and other support services. For more information on Close the Gap or to make a donation, go to https://www.ucc.edu/union-county-college-foundation/ways-to-give/donate-today/.

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.

Cranford, NJ – UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ forged a partnership with Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU). This alliance will provide students who graduate from UCNJ the opportunity to pursue a bachelor’s degree with FDU, with the convenience of taking classes at UCNJ’s Scotch Plains Campus.

UCNJ’s Scotch Plains Campus is the headquarters for the University Center, a destination campus with strategic four-year university partners. Beginning as early as Spring 2025, FDU plans to offer bachelor’s degrees in social work and select health care programs. These programs are connected to the local labor market needs and will provide a strong foundation for careers that provide family-sustaining wages.

This UCNJ-FDU partnership is designed to facilitate bachelor’s attainment among UCNJ grads. The University Center at the UCNJ Scotch Plains Campus allows associate degree graduates to take their third- and fourth-year courses and earn their bachelor’s degrees close to home.

The Scotch Plains Campus University Center, where students will take classes, has recently undergone renovations that include enhanced study spaces for students, computer labs, and additional classroom space. The Scotch Plains Campus, in addition to housing the University Center, is also home to the College’s Virtual Campus, and community collaborations.

“At UCNJ, we are thrilled to expand learning opportunities for our graduates. This alliance allows our students to continue pursuing more advanced degrees locally at UCNJ. This partnership reflects our commitment to transform our community, one student at a time, and we are excited to witness our future health care staff, nurses, and social workers achieve their academic credentials right here at UCNJ,” stated UCNJ’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.

For more information on UCNJ’s University Center, visit https://www.ucc.edu/universitycenter/.

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.

 

Cranford, NJ – Eight UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ students have been selected to participate in Princeton University’s Transfer Scholars Initiative summer program. This highly selective program offers an exceptional opportunity for students to take courses at Princeton for free.

From June 29 through August 16, eight UCNJ students will enroll in a full-time, eight-week academic curriculum, taking two credit-bearing Princeton courses at no cost to the student. When not in classes, students have the opportunity to connect with Princeton faculty, students, and receive transfer success programing to guide them for transferring after completing their associate degree at UCNJ. Transfer Scholars also receive a stipend to cover expenses, including travel, and will be able to live on campus. The eight scholars from UCNJ attending the summer intensive at Princeton are:

• Nyiera Eliscar, from Linden, studying early childhood elementary education
• Luis Fiallos, of Plainfield, majoring in engineering
• Roger Fortunato, from Newark, studying computer science
• Izabella Kopacz, from Summit, majoring in visual arts
• Angel Maldonado, of Elizabeth, pursuing a liberal studies degree
• Danielle Marie Baez, from Elizabeth, studying architecture
• Omowonuola Oyedele, from Woodbridge, pursuing a degree in engineering, and
• Laura Shubert, of Springfield, majoring in architecture

“We are incredibly proud of our eight student-scholars who were selected to attend the Princeton summer program. Their acceptance is a testament to their hard work and the high-quality education they have received at UCNJ. This opportunity will contribute to their continued success, and we cannot wait to see what their next steps will be in their academic journey,” stated UCNJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.

For more information on Princeton’s Summer Intensive program, go to https://tsi-ebcao.princeton.edu/.

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.

 

Cranford, NJ – UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ won four awards given by the New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC). The awards were distributed at the New Jersey Community Colleges Awards Program and Dinner as a part of New Jersey’s Community College Opportunity Summit held in Atlantic City in June 2024.

Of the eight award categories, UCNJ received four:

• Presented to a trustee who has made outstanding contributions, Board of Governors Chair Mary M. Zimmermann (UCNJ ’01) accepted the Ronald D. Winthers Trustee Leadership Award.
• Awarded to a senior community college leader in recognition of their leadership efforts, Vice President for Student Development Dr. Demond T. Hargrove received the Dr. Lawrence A. Nespoli Leadership Award.
• Bestowed to a New Jersey community college faculty member who has had a profound influence on students inside and outside of the classroom, the Distinguished Faculty Award was given to Associate Professor of Chemistry Shahrzad “Sherry” Heidary.
• Conferred to students in recognition of their academic excellence, character, inspirational success, and service to their communities, the New Jersey Student of the Year was presented to Katherine Mejia (UCNJ ’24).

Mrs. Zimmermann, of Summit, has been a member of the UCNJ Boards since 2006 and is Chair of the Board of Governors. In 2023, she finished her term as Chair of the NJCCC where she represented the community college trustees and students of all 18 of NJ’s two-year colleges. Additionally, Mrs. Zimmermann received the Women of Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Union County Commission on the Status of Women in 2019.

Dr. Hargrove, a resident of Union Township, has served as the College’s Chief Student Officer since joining UCNJ in 2017. Earlier this year, Dr. Hargrove received the Chester Holmes Humanitarian Award from the Union County Board of County Commissioners. The Commissioner Board established the Chester Holmes Humanitarian Award in 2012, in honor of the former County Commissioner and Rahway resident Chester Holmes, who passed away earlier that same year.

Professor Heidary, of Springfield, has been a member of the faculty at UCNJ for more than 15 years. She has served as an advisor to student organizations including the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honor society, Union Honors, Women’s Empowerment Club, and much more. Professor Heidary is one of only two faculty member Trustees on the Union County College Foundation Board. In 2023, she received the Association of Community College Trustees Faculty Award for the Northeast Region.

Katherine Mejia, of Plainfield, graduated from UCNJ in 2024 with a degree in social services and a 3.9 GPA. At UCNJ, she was a part of the Honors program, a member of PTK serving as Committee Leader of Scholarship, and a part of the Educational Opportunity Fund. She was also Vice President of the Psychology Club and a NJ STARS student. Katherine served as a peer tutor in the College’s Academic Learning Center. Last summer, she participated in the summer intensive program at Princeton University. Katherine will be continuing her studies at Drew University in the fall.

“We are proud of these members of the UCNJ community – from recognition of a member of our board, senior administration, faculty, and a student! They represent the best of what we have here at UCNJ. These are all highly motivated individuals who are deeply committed to the College’s mission. I am pleased that the NJCCC chose to honor them,” 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 a designated finalist by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. To learn more, visit www.ucc.edu.

Signature Recognition Celebrates 10 High-Achieving Community Colleges From Across the Country

WASHINGTON D.C., June 11, 2024 – Today, the Aspen Institute named UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ as a finalist for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The $1 million award is the nation’s signature recognition of strong performance among community colleges. The institutions selected for this honor stand out among more than 1,000 community colleges nationwide as having high and improving levels of student success, as well as equitable outcomes for Black and Hispanic students and those from lower-income backgrounds.

“The UCNJ community is ecstatic and humbled by this prestigious recognition by the Aspen Institute. This acknowledgment reflects the dedication and hard work of our entire community — students, staff, and faculty alike. This accolade highlights the leadership and support from our Board of Trustees, Board of Governors, and Foundation Board. It speaks volumes about the transformative impact our institution is making in the lives of those we serve. Being named a 2025 Aspen Prize Finalist is an honor, but it also serves as a reminder of our ongoing commitment to excellence, equity, and innovation in education. We will continue to live our mission of transforming our community, one student at a time. And we are thrilled to be doing so at one of the top ten community colleges in the nation,” stated UCNJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.

Awarded every two years, the Aspen Prize honors colleges with outstanding performance in six critical areas: teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, workforce success, broad access to the college and its offerings, and equitable outcomes for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds. The winner will be announced in the spring of 2025.

Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, noted the Aspen Prize finalists not only deserve national recognition, but they also need to be studied and their successes replicated.

“Working-class Americans are experiencing an economy that seems to be stacked against them, while employers are struggling to find well-prepared workers in fields such as teaching, nursing, software development, welding, and advanced manufacturing,” Wyner said. “The 10 Aspen Prize finalists demonstrate how community colleges serving urban and rural communities throughout the country can prepare many more graduates for fulfilling lives and careers in their communities. They show that excellence can be reached in any and every context.”

The finalists are:

• Georgia Highlands College, GA
• Moorpark College, CA
• Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, WI
• Northwest Vista College, TX
• San Jacinto College, TX
• Seminole State College of Florida
• South Puget Sound Community College, WA
• Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, WI
• UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ
• Wallace State Community College-Hanceville, AL

The Aspen Prize selection process began in the summer of 2023 when Aspen analyzed data on 1,000 community colleges in key areas such as retention, completion, and transfer. In October, Aspen invited 150 community colleges to apply based on data showing high, improving, and equitable levels of student success. The 118 submitted applications went to a selection committee of 18 higher education experts who assessed each application based on extensive data and narrative answers to questions. Following interviews with leadership teams from applicants receiving top scores, 20 semifinalists were selected and announced in May. The committee continued its review and narrowed the field to the 10 finalists.

Next steps in the process include:

• Fall 2024: Multi-day in-person site visits to each of the 10 finalists, during which Aspen and partners will collect additional information, and additional data collection, including extensive employment and earnings data on graduates from the finalist colleges
• Winter 2025: A distinguished, independent Prize jury will review data and qualitative summaries that synthesize each part of the 14-month analyses, then meet for a full day to select the winner and others for additional recognition
• April 17, 2025: Announcement of the Aspen Prize winner and celebration of the 10 finalists in Washington, DC

To read more on the selection process, visit
https://highered.aspeninstitute.org/aspen-prize/.

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The Aspen Prize is generously funded by Ascendium, the Joyce Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, and the Kresge Foundation.

Previous winners are:

• 2023: Amarillo College (TX) and Imperial Valley College (CA)
• 2021: San Antonio College (TX)
• 2019: Indian River State College (FL) and Miami Dade College (FL)
• 2017: Lake Area Technical Institute (SD)
• 2015: Santa Fe College (FL)
• 2013: Santa Barbara City College (CA) and Walla Walla Community College (WA)
• 2011: Valencia College (FL)

Note: Colleges that have won the Aspen Prize are not eligible to apply in subsequent years

The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program supports colleges and universities in their quest to achieve a higher standard of excellence, delivering credentials that unlock life-changing careers and strengthen our economy, society, and democracy. We know it takes visionary college leaders to lead scaled, sustainable reforms, and we make it our mission to equip them with the knowledge, skills, and research-backed tools to inspire change, shift practice, and advance the capacity of colleges to deliver excellent and equitable student outcomes. For more information, visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, DC and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

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.

Cranford, NJ – UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ graduate Mark Farag, of Elizabeth, has been selected for a prestigious 2024 Jack Kent Cooke Foundation (JKCF) Graduate Scholarship. Farag graduated from UCNJ in 2022 with an associate degree in engineering and transferred to the University of Michigan to complete his bachelor’s degree.

JKCF Graduate Scholars can be eligible for up to $150,000, with an annual cap of $75,000 per year to attend a full-time, accredited graduate program. Farag is one of only 117 JKCF Graduate Scholars. In 2022, he was selected as one of 100 community college students nationwide for the JKCF Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship which provided up to $55,000 per year for him to complete his baccalaureate degree.

While at UCNJ, Farag served as President of UCNJ’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa honor society and was a Union honors student. He was an ambassador for the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) program at UCNJ while working. Farag is currently interning for SpaceX and is considering two master’s programs: an aerospace engineering program and a climate space program. After earning his master’s degree, his career goal is to become a project manager engineer in the aerospace.

“We are incredibly proud of Mark on this remarkable achievement. To receive not only the JKCF Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship but now to get the Graduate Scholarship as well is quite the feat. We know one of the biggest barriers to higher education can be finances and the financial support that the JKCF is providing is truly transformational. We look forward to monitoring and supporting his continued success,” 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 20 community colleges in the country for 2025 as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. To learn more, visit www.ucc.edu.

Cranford, NJ – UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ student Precious Opaola, of Linden, has been accepted into Princeton University for fall 2024. Opaola graduated from UCNJ this spring with her associate degree in social services.

In addition to her academic success in the classroom, Opaola was very active on campus. She served as the Vice President of Service and Fundraising for Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honor society, was a Union Honors scholar, a member of the National Society for Leadership and Success, and a peer tutor at UCNJ’s Academic Learning Center. Opaola is not a stranger to Princeton University. In summer 2023, she was among 40 community college students who participated in Princeton’s inaugural transfer scholar initiative program.

This year, Opaola was a semifinalist for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship and was chosen as a Kaplan Leadership program scholar. She also served as the student speaker during the spring 2024 UCNJ commencement ceremony.

“On behalf of the UCNJ community, I want to congratulate Precious on her acceptance into Princeton. This achievement is a testament to hard work, both in and out of the classroom, perseverance, and passion. Her success is an inspiration to many, and we know that she will continue to shine at Princeton,” stated UCNJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.

Opaola will continue to study social work at Princeton. Opaola aspires to guide people, specifically lower income children, and set them up for a successful future. Her goal is to own a non-profit organization that focuses on helping lower-income children take advantage of the opportunities around them.

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 20 community colleges in the country for 2025 as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. To learn more, visit www.ucc.edu.