Cranford, NJ – UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ celebrated its Winter Commencement on January 15, 2026, at the historic Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway. Two ceremonies were held for more than 700 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 2025.
UCNJ’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin served as the Master of Ceremonies and welcomed graduates and attendees to the celebration. Each ceremony included a member of the graduating class who was selected to speak at the ceremony. The speakers were Theo Hamadallah, of Westfield, and Rosebertine Mitchel, of Union.
The Alumni Prize was presented to Juan Alvarez of Linden, who graduated with a 3.8 GPA and Sophia Mencia of Harrison, who graduated with a 3.9 GPA. The Abdallah-Thomas Memorial Award, which was established in memory of UCNJ alumni, is awarded 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 Juline Placide and Rosebertine Mitchel.
“On behalf of the entire UCNJ community, I am proud to congratulate the Winter 2026 graduates on this meaningful achievement,” said President McMenamin. “This graduating class has demonstrated remarkable resilience, determination, and an unwavering commitment to their academic and personal goals. As they transfer to four-year institutions or enter the workforce, I am confident they are exceptionally well prepared to lead, contribute, and succeed. We look forward to the lasting impact they will have on their families, careers, and communities.”
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.
