Cranford, NJ – UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ is proud to announce that student Samir Perez, of Elizabeth, has been selected as a Kaplan Leadership scholar. Perez is one of only 11 students recognized in the tristate area for this leadership opportunity. The Kaplan Leadership Program targets students at two-year schools who demonstrate educational acumen, leadership potential, and financial need.
Born in Cuba and immigrating to the United States fourteen years ago, Perez decided to begin his education at UCNJ after learning about the educational programs, extracurricular activities, and the opportunity for growth and connection at the College. He is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa, President of the Latin Legacy Club, an Educational Opportunity Fund program student, and a tutor at the Academic Learning Center.
This spring, Perez will be graduating from UCNJ and will be pursuing his education in Computer Information Systems. Regarding his future, his career goal is to become a business analyst, a program manager, or a software engineer.
“We are incredibly proud of Samir’s acceptance into the prestigious Kaplan Leadership Program. Samir’s academic achievements, hard work, and leadership skills have set a high standard at the College, and we cannot wait to see all that he will accomplish and learn as a Kaplan Scholar. At UCNJ, we are committed to fostering an environment where students like Samir can pursue their dreams and make connections both inside and outside of the classroom” stated 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.
For more information on UCNJ, go to http://hpku.nameiw.com/ and for more information on the Kaplan Leadership Scholar program, go to http://www.kaplanedfoundation.org/
