Six UCUC students are in the mix for scholarship

Union College of Union County has announced that six of its students are semifinalists for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship — the most in Union’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. Union’s six semifinalists all have at least a 3.65 grade-point average, are members of Phi Theta Kappa, the International Honor Society for two-year colleges, and have been very involved in various clubs and activities during their time at Union College of Union County.

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 as much as $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 GPA and is studying architecture at Union College of Union County. She is a member of UCUC’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 Union College of Union County’s Model United Nations and an Academic Learning Center tutor. Chinedu was also selected as a 2023 Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholar and will receive a scholarship. Selection as a CocaCola 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 Union College of Union County this past winter with an associate degree in business and a 3.94 GPA. While at UCUC, she was a member of PTK, the National Society of Leadership and Success and a tutor in the ALC. At Union College of Union County’s Winter Commencement, she received the AbdallahSee CRANFORD, Page 11