CRANFORD – The UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ Esports team won the National Junior Athletic Association (NJCAA) Esports Championship for Overwatch 2 and Mario Kart. This is the first National Championship in the program’s history. Both UCNJ’s Overwatch 2 team and student Ian Friedman, competing in Mario Kart, had a perfect season straight through to the finals.
Ian Friedman, of Maplewood, won the Mario Kart finals against a SUNY Corning Community College player 4-2. The Overwatch 2 team was victorious against the number one seed Florida Gateway College 3-0. The Overwatch 2 team members include: Oscar Alvarez, of Elizabeth (Team Lead); Alexander Garcia, of Rahway (Team Captain); Jake Castro, of Elizabeth; Kevin Loureiro, of Linden; Lucas Chudoba, of Elizabeth; and Jose Paredes, of Roselle. Additionally, Jake Castro was runner up for NBA2k against Heartland Community College 1-3. The team is led by head coach Duane Reid (UCNJ’s Director of Student Success Initiatives) and assistant coach Samuel Sanchez.
The College launched its Esports program in fall 2018. At the time, UCNJ was the first two-year college in New Jersey and only one of 63 nationwide to offer Esports.
“We are very proud of this hardworking team of student-athletes for what they’ve achieved this season. It’s wonderful that these skilled gamers now have a place within UCNJ’s array of college athletics – a place where they feel they belong. The technical skill and teamwork required for these games is impressive, and we welcome the gamers in our community to see what UCNJ has to offer: a great education and an opportunity to participate in intercollegiate athletics via Esports,” stated UCNJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.
UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ 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. There are over sixty programs of study including Communications, eSports Management, Engineering, Health Information Technology. Students can participate in clubs, honor societies, and a full array of NJCAA athletics beyond Esports including basketball, baseball, lacrosse, soccer, wrestling, and more. The College offers many experiential learning opportunities such as access to a Bloomberg Business Center, eSports room, Innovation Center, and Student Research hub. Additionally, students at UCNJ will be attending one of the top 25 community colleges in the country as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program.
Cranford – UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ is excited to announce that six of its students are semifinalists for theprestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation (JKCF) Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship – the most in UCNJ’s history. The semifinalists are Eman Abdelrahman, of New Providence; Ozichi Chinedu, of Freehold; Joceline Gissel Guerra Osorio, of Elizabeth; Junaid Ilyas, of Roselle Park; Yeicob Martinez, of Rahway; and Carine Medellus, of Roselle. UCNJ’s six semifinalists all have at least a 3.65 GPA, are members of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the International Honor Society for two-year colleges, and have been very involved in various clubs and activities during their time at UCNJ.
From Top Left: Eman Abdelrahman, Ozichi Chinedu, Joceline Guerra Osorio, Junaid Ilyas, Yeicob Martinez, Carine Medellus
For students to be considered for the JKCF Scholarship, they must have at least a 3.5 GPA, and demonstrate financial need. When a student is selected as a JKCF Transfer Scholar, they receive financial support of up to $55,000 for two to three years to complete their bachelor’s degree, college planning support, ongoing advising, and the opportunity to connect with fellow JKCF scholars.
Eman Abdelrahman is an adult student with a 3.87 Grade Point Average (GPA) and is studying architecture at UCNJ. She is a member UCNJ’s Architecture Honors Society. Abdelrahman plans to continue her academic career as an architecture student at a four-year university. After completing her degree, she plans to pursue a career in sustainable housing design. By focusing on sustainable housing, she hopes to contribute to a more environmentally conscious future and positively impact society.
Ozichi Chinedu has a 4.0 GPA and is studying computer information systems and technology. She is the Vice President of Scholarship Hallmark for PTK, Vice President of UCNJ’s Model United Nations, and an Academic Learning Center (ALC) tutor. Chinedu was also selected as a 2023 Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholar and will receive a scholarship. Selection as a Coca-Cola Silver Scholar was based on scores the student earned in the All-USA Academic Team competition, for which more than 2,400 applications were received this year. This program is sponsored by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and is administered by PTK Honor Society. Chinedu plans on continuing her studies at a four-year institution with a goal of obtaining her master’s degree and becoming a project manager or systems analyst.
Joceline Guerra Osorio graduated from UCNJ this past winter with an associate degree in business and a 3.94 GPA. While at UCNJ, she was a member of PTK, the National Society of Leadership and Success, and a tutor in the ALC. At UCNJ’s Winter Commencement, she received the Abdallah-Thomas Memorial Award, which is awarded to a student from the graduating class who has at least a 3.25 GPA, has participated in college life through service in college activities and/or sports, and has completed community service. Guerra currently attends Kean University, where she studies management and business analytics. Her career goals are to obtain a master’s degree in business analytics and earn a Ph.D. in data analysis and use those skills working for a business or an organization.
Junaid Ilyas has a 3.89 GPA and is studying engineering. He is a Kaplan Scholar, member of the American Honors Program, and a tutor in UCNJ’s ALC. Ilyas is also the senator for UCNJ’s Engineering Society and part of Project Achievement, UCNJ’s student success initiative for Black male students. Regarding Ilyas’ future, he plans to further his education by pursuing a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering, with a career goal of being a vehicle engineer. Specifically, being part of the innovation side of vehicle design, creating ideas that he believes “other gear-heads would go crazy over.”
Yeicob Martinez has a 3.65 GPA and is studying business. He currently serves as President of UCNJ’s Iota Xi chapter of PTK and is a member of the American Honors Program. When he isn’t hitting the books, Martinez is spiking balls as co-captain of the Men’s Volleyball team at UCNJ. Martinez plans to continue his education at a four-year institution and then a master’s, studying business administration and finance. As for career goals, Martinez wants to enter a private equity or be an employee at AMD, a company he has always admired.
Carine Medellus has a 4.0 and is studying biology. Medellus is the Committee Leader of Scholarship in PTK, Vice President of the Research Club, an American Honors Program student, and an ALC tutor. Medellus was also selected as one of only 20 students nationwide to be a member of the 2023 All-USA Academic Team which is sponsored by Cengage with additional support provided by the American Association of Community Colleges and PTK. Medellus plans to transfer to a four-year university and study biochemistry, and her career goal is to focus on scientific research.
“What an accomplishment for these five scholars to be selected as semifinalists for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Their hard work, the focus on their academic studies, as well as their involvement at UCNJ has paid off with this great recognition,” stated UCNJ’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin. “We are grateful to our previous JKCF transfer scholarship recipients, McDaniel Jeantus (UCNJ ’16) and Mark Farag (UCNJ ’22) for coming back to the help our next scholars” said Dr. McMenamin. “This is a transformative opportunity for students to receive funding and support for their education, and we wish each of our five semifinalists the best of luck.”
Recipients of the JKCF Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is expected to be announced in April. UCNJ is a public, comprehensive community college that provides quality, affordable, accessible educational programs to the greater UCNJ 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 25 community colleges in the country for 2023 as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. For more information about UCNJ, please visit www.ucc.edu and for more information on the JCKF, please go to www.jkcf.org.
Cranford – Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority in efforts accelerating Latino student success in higher education, announced that UCNJ’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin has chosen to be part of Presidents for Latino Student Success network.
This important national network is comprised of college and university presidents and chancellors who commit to making their institutions learning environments where Latino students thrive. The institutions in Excelencia’s network are transforming higher education.
Of the thousands of colleges and universities across the country, the more than 150 leaders of the 175 institutions in the network enroll one in four of all Latino students in higher education. More importantly, these institutions account for one in three of all Latino graduates. In fact, a subset of the Excelencia network – 30 institutions that have been certified with the Seal of Excelencia – represents 13% of all Latino enrollment and graduates 14% of all Latinos in the U.S.
UCNJ’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin
For the Fall 2022 semester, 45% of UCNJ’s students and over 55% of first-time full-time students identified as Hispanic, the largest percentage in the College’s history. UCNJ is identified as a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) based on the College’s Hispanic student enrollment.
Excelencia professionals, the leadership network, and their campus teams, actively collaborate to put evidence-based practices and strategic analysis of student data to use supporting and advancing the talents, skills, and contributions of Latino students and the institutions.
Sarita Brown, Co-founder and President of Excelencia, said, “Higher education leaders with skills and vision are fundamental to our country’s strong recovery. Those prepared to engage and intentionally serve Latino students, while serving all their students, will lead the way.”
Excelencia is honored to work with the trendsetting presidents and chancellors who have accepted this challenge. The leaders in the network have made common cause with Excelencia to accelerate Latino student success in higher education.
“Dr. McMenamin’s leadership has worked in the best interest of students since she arrived at UCNJ almost 13 years ago,” stated UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ’s Board of Trustees Chair Victor M. Richel. “Her focus from the beginning has been on student success, specifically with initiatives such as Inspire the Future, which provides support to Hispanic students and aims to increase graduation rates of UCNJ’s Hispanic population. With her new affiliation with Excelencia, she will have the opportunity to bring her innovative ideas to a national level.”
Through the network, President McMenamin will collaborate with Excelencia to leverage collective expertise and resources, foster partnerships, and amplify current efforts at the national level. To learn more about Presidents for Latino Student Success network and the other institutional leaders across the country affiliated with Excelencia, visit: https://www.edexcelencia.org/leadership/presidents-latino-student-success
CRANFORD, NJ – UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ is excited to welcome Dr. Charnette Hockaday as the new Dean of Students. Dr. Hockaday has worked in the field of higher education and student affairs for 18 years. Before joining UCNJ, Dr. Hockaday served as Associate Dean of Students at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).
Dr. Hockaday earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Farleigh Dickinson University and a Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School. She began her career in student affairs at Stonybrook University and NJIT, working in residence life at both universities.
In her most recent role, Dr. Hockaday returned to NJIT as the Associate Dean of Students where she was responsible for the adjudication of academic integrity and student conduct violations, in addition to providing general support to students as a member of the Dean of Students team. During her time as Associate Dean at NJIT, Dr. Hockaday oversaw student affairs departments such as Counseling Services and Residence Life.
At UCNJ, Dr. Hockaday will provide direct oversight of the Assistant Dean of Students, Disability Support Services & Veteran Affairs, College Life & Athletics, and Social Work Services. Also included is overseeing the advocacy and support of students of concern and serving as chair of the CARE Team, a multidisciplinary team that works to assist students in need of personal and/or academic resources. Dr. Hockaday will serve as the College’s Title IX Deputy Coordinator, assisting with compliance as it relates to higher education and federal regulations and laws directly impacting students.
“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Hockaday to the UCNJ community,” stated UCNJ’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin. “Her expertise in student affairs and program development are critical for student support at the College.”
Dr. Hockaday has participated as a member in various professional organizations, including the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), Association for College Professional Administrators, and Association for Student Conduct Administration.
UCNJ is a public, comprehensive community college that provides quality, affordable, accessible educational programs to the greater UCNJ 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 25 community colleges in the country for 2023 as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program.
Medellus Recognized for Intellectual Achievement, Leadership, Community and Campus Engagement
Cranford – UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ student Carine Medellus, of Roselle, is one of only 20 college students nationwide named to the prestigious All-USA Academic Team and will receive a $5,000 scholarship. More than 2400 students were nominated for this award. Medellus is studying biology at UCNJ and has a 4.0 grade point average. She is the Committee Leader of Scholarship in Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the Vice President of the Research Club, an American Honors Program student, and a peer tutor in the College’s Academic Learning Center. Medellus is currently working on an undergraduate research project with her dedicated professors.
Team members were selected for their outstanding intellectual achievement, leadership, community, and campus engagement. The All-USA Academic Team is sponsored by Cengage, with additional support provided by PTK and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).
The All-USA program is widely recognized as the most prestigious academic honor for students attending associate degree-granting institutions. Each college may nominate two students for showing intellectual rigor and demonstrating academic achievement, leadership, and civic growth. The program also recognizes students who extend their community college education to better themselves, their schools, and their surrounding communities.
“We are deeply inspired by the achievements of this year’s All-USA Academic Team. With so much focus and pressure on which post-secondary institution a student attends, these students show that the real keys to success are hard work and determination,” said Edwin Robles, Senior Vice President and General Manager, US Higher Education and Canada, Cengage. “Community colleges play an important role in providing affordable education that helps students transition successfully to the workforce or a four-year institution. Despite facing significant enrollment headwinds since the pandemic, community colleges have been the most innovative in taking steps to make learning more flexible, affordable and accessible. We are proud to support these institutions and their students in their continued success.”
Additionally, Medellus was named a 2023 New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar and will receive a $2,250 scholarship. Selection was based on the score earned in the All-USA Academic Team competition. Medellus received the highest score in New Jersey. The program is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Foundation, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, Phi Theta Kappa, and AACC.
“The UCNJ community is very proud of Carine’s achievements and the recognitions she has earned during her time at UCNJ. Her strong work ethic and passion for success are going to help her accomplish great things,” stated UCNJ’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin “We applaud the PTK faculty advisors and staff for their successful mentorship of Ms. Medellus. She has achieved what very few students have ever achieved.”
As for her plans after graduating from UCNJ, Medellus has been selected as an undergraduate researcher at the University of Buffalo for this upcoming summer. She plans to transfer to a four-year university and study biochemistry, and her career goal is to earn a doctorate and work as a researcher. Medellus will be recognized during the AACC convention at PTK’s Presidents Breakfast on April 3, 2023, in Denver, Colorado.
About Cengage
Cengage, the U.S. Higher Education business of global education technology company Cengage Group, serves millions of instructors, learners, and institutions. We deliver affordable, high-quality digital products and personalized support to power learning individually and at scale. Our customer-centered approach enables innovation, including Cengage Unlimited, the first and only all-access digital subscription for textbooks and course materials. Our textbooks, homework tools, and flagship online learning platforms, MindTap and WebAssign, help educators and students achieve their goals. Learn more at www.cengage.com.
About Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.8 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at www.ptk.org.
About UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ
UCNJ is a public, comprehensive community college that provides quality, affordable, accessible educational programs to the greater UCNJ 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 25 community colleges in the country for 2023 as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. For more information, visit https://www.ucc.edu/
Kamily Flores, of Elizabeth, has opened Craft Protein Bar, a place to get meal replacement shakes, protein coffee, tea, and more in downtown Cranford. When she’s not at Craft and running her business, Flores attends UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ and studying business marketing. Inspired by her parents’ own success in running a health and wellness business, Flores plans to put her business degree at UCNJ to good use as she aspires to expand Craft in the future.
At only 19 years old, Flores decided to open her business with encouragement from her parents, who immigrated to the United States when they were 19, making Flores a first-generation American and College student. The concept for Craft came from her own experience. Flores and her parents wanted to be healthier, so they created their own drinks and replacement shakes, experimenting with different combinations and flavors. As they continued making the shakes, the family lost a combined 60 pounds and gained significantly more energy.
Fast forward to December 2022, when Flores decided to take her family’s original recipes and bring them to the public by opening Craft. Some of the most popular drinks from the menu include the Cookie Monster, Fruity Pebbles, and the Jolly Rancher. Each drink has at least 30 grams of protein and is less than 300 calories.
Arguably, many people who want to open a business never do so due to fear of failure. “You never know until you take the risk,” stated Flores. “I have nothing to lose. There’s a health problem in the United States and everyone is on the go. At Craft, you can quickly grab something delicious, and you know you’re getting something healthy.”
When she’s not at Craft, Flores is studying business marketing at UCNJ. Flores appreciates the flexibility and scheduling that UCNJ offers, as she needs to have time in her day to run her business in between completed her business homework assignments.
CRANFORD, NJ – UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ is proud to announce that student Junaid Ilyas, of Roselle Park, has been selected as a Kaplan Leadership Scholar. Ilyas is one of only 11 students selected nationwide as a Kaplan Leadership Scholar.
The Kaplan Leadership Scholar Program, which is a part of the Kaplan Educational Foundation, targets students at two-year schools who demonstrate financial need, leadership potential, and educational acumen.
While pursuing his degree in engineering at UCNJ, Ilyas also serves as a tutor to his fellow students in the Academic Learning Center and is an American Honors student. Regarding Ilyas’ future, he plans to further his education by pursuing a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering, with a career goal of being a vehicle engineer. Specifically, he plans to be a part of the innovation side of vehicle design, creating ideas that he believes “other gear-heads would go crazy over.”
“Junaid is a dedicated student and is a great example of hard work resulting in tremendous opportunity,” states UCNJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin. “The financial support provided by the Kaplan Educational Foundation is transformative, and we are proud of Junaid for being one of only 11 students across the country to be selected for this honor.” Ilyas is the fourth student from UCNJ selected as a Kaplan Leadership Scholar. Marlon Artega (UCNJ ’22) shared his experience being selected as a Scholar, which can be found here.
UCNJ is a public, comprehensive community college that provides quality, affordable, accessible educational programs to the greater UCNJ County region. It is the first of New Jersey’s 18 two-year colleges, serving both career-minded and transfer-oriented students since 1933. UCNJ was named a semifinalist for the 2023 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. For more information on UCNJ, go to https://www.ucc.edu/ and for more information on the Kaplan Leadership Scholar program, go to https://www.kaplanedfoundation.org/
CRANFORD – UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ will offer a Google IT Support Certificate program beginning in March 2023. This 15-week program prepares beginner learners for entry-level jobs in IT support through online, independent study. Weekly, virtual, instructor-supported sessions guide students to program completion.
After completing the Google IT Support Certificate program, students will understand the core functions that are central to all IT support jobs, including troubleshooting, customer service, networking, system administration, operating systems, and security. They will know how to assemble a computer, write effective support documentation, route paths and subnets and manage device software. Students will also gain knowledge of Linux, cloud computing, and command-line interfaces.
This certificate prepares learners for in-demand roles such as Technical Support Specialist, Data Center Technician, IT Helpdesk Technician, IT Administrator, and Manager or Network Administrator. The program will take place from March 20th through June 30th, 2023. The cost to enroll in this online program is $500. Interested students can register at www.ucc.edu/ce or call (908) 709-7600 for additional details.
Pharmacy Technician is one of the fastest growing healthcare industries, with a projected 6.6% increase in job openings, according to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
For those interested in joining this rapidly growing industry, UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ is hosting an information session to learn how to become a Pharmacy Technician in four months. The session will provide information on program details, apprenticeship options, and on-the-job learning opportunities. UCNJ staff will be present to answer questions.
These information sessions will provide prospective candidates with an overview of topics covered in the Pharmacy Technician program. Pharmacy Technicians are an integral part of the health care industry, as they collaborate with pharmacists and other healthcare providers in different settings such as hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies.
Information sessions are scheduled for:
February 2 at 10 am
February 14 at 2 pm
February 17 at 10 am
Applicants may be eligible for tuition reimbursement as an apprentice under the New Jersey HealthWorks Scaling Apprenticeship program.
CRANFORD, NJ – Union College of Union County, NJ celebrated its Winter Commencement on January 12, 2023 at the historic Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway. Two ceremonies were held for Union College’s newest graduates who received their Associate in Science, Associate in Arts, and Associate in Applied Science Degrees, and Certificates. The graduates completed their degrees in either August or December 2022. This Commencement was particularly meaningful as it was Union College’s first in-person Winter Commencement since January 2020 due to COVID-19.
Union College’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin served as the Master of Ceremonies and welcomed graduates and attendees to the celebration. Each ceremony included a student speaker who was selected to speak to their class. The student speakers were Wakila Timmons, of Elizabeth, and Amir Abdelmalak, of Scotch Plains.
At both ceremonies, two awards were presented to the students with the highest GPA at each ceremony. The Alumni Prize was presented to Brian Laura Zegarra, of Elizabeth, who graduated with a 4.0 GPA and Amir Abedelmalak, who graduated with a 3.914 GPA.
Joceline Guerra Osorio and Shaneka Baker, both from Elizabeth, received the Abdallah-Thomas Memorial Award. The Abdallah-Thomas Memorial Award, which was established in memory of Ibtissam Ahmed Abdallah and Marquest S. Thomas, is awarded to two graduating students who have at least a 3.25 GPA, have participated in college life through service in college activities and/or sports, and have completed community service. Osorio graduated with a 3.941 GPA, and Baker graduated with a 4.0 GPA.
“We are especially proud of the class of 2023 for their accomplishments given that they began their college careers during the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated Union College’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin. “They faced unique challenges, and their ability to persevere and remain focused on their goals will serve them well.”
Union College of Union County, NJ is a public comprehensive community college providing 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 enrolls almost 20,000 credit, non-credit, and continuing education students and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Union College has been recognized as one of the top 150 community colleges in the country for 2021 and a top 25 community college for 2023 as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. For more information about Union College, please visit www.ucc.edu.
