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  Hudson County Community College announced that Marlon Peña Crespo has been named the Class of 2026 Valedictorian. Commencement ceremonies are scheduled for Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, NJ.

Hudson County Community College (HCCC) announced that Marlon Peña Crespo has been chosen as the Class of 2026 Valedictorian. He will address his peers, family, friends, faculty, and others at HCCC’s 49^th Annual Commencement Ceremonies on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, NJ.

Marlon is completing his Associate in Science degree in Computer Science, earning a perfect 4.0 Grade Point Average. A member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, Marlon is a semifinalist for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. He navigated a new educational system after arriving in the United States from Cuba, transforming that challenge into academic excellence and a commitment to using technology for social impact. Marlon is focused on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to solve real-world challenges, particularly improving access to resources for underserved communities. He specializes in rapid prototyping and translating human-centered needs into robust, scalable solutions.

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“Untitled” (Bus, Crowds of People, and Buildings) by J. Clarke, 1982, Oil on Canvas, 19” x 28”

Hudson County Community College (HCCC) received a landmark gift to its Foundation Art Collection from collectors Benjamin Ortiz and Victor P. Torchia, Jr., who donated more than 200 works of art in honor of the College’s 50th anniversary. Much of the donated artwork focuses on work by women artists and artists from Latin America and the Caribbean. This major donation significantly expands the breadth and depth of the College’s already extensive permanent collection, bringing new paintings, prints, sculptures, antiquities, and a bevy of antique photographs to the College’s campuses, where students will encounter and enjoy the art as part of their daily lives at HCCC.

According to Mr. Ortiz and Mr. Torchia, “Our collection consists of works on paper across all media. We regard ourselves not as owners of these artworks, but as their stewards. For over four decades, we have approached the acquisition of art with a deep sense of responsibility and a commitment to preservation. It is our privilege, as collectors, to make these works accessible, ensuring they serve as enduring resources for education and scholarly inquiry by students, faculty, researchers, and the broader public. We are honored to have formalized this commitment through their inclusion in the 50th Anniversary gifts to the Hudson County Community College Foundation Art Collection.”

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Hudson County Community College (HCCC) is the recipient of Insight Into Academia’s 2026 Civic Engagement and Community Service Award for the Hudson Oral History Project (HOHP). Pictured here: HOHP Co-Directors Antonio Acevedo, Associate Professor of History (rear right), and Dr. Sean Egan, Assistant Professor of English(rear center) and program student intern Victoria Lenga (front left), with Jaya Jones (rear left) and Rose Marie Shields (front right), HCCC students who were awarded Microhistories Fellowships.

Hudson County Community College (HCCC) has been honored with Insight Into Academia Magazine’s Civic Engagement and Community Service Award for the College’s Hudson Oral History Project (HOHP). The award celebrates colleges and universities that demonstrate sustained commitment to serving their communities and advancing the public good.

“We are honored to receive this award that reflects the College’s role in the history of Journal Square, and how residents and businesses witnessed and adapted to changes,” said HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber. “The Hudson Oral History Project involves intensive research, interviews, and collaboration. Special thanks to Assistant Professor Dr. Sean Egan and Associate Professor Antonio Acevedo, who established and oversee this enriching grant-supported project.” 

The College’s HOHP captures the evolution of Journal Square, documenting stories from a broad range of people whose lives were shaped in significant ways by the area. One of the most diverse regions in the United States, Jersey City’s Journal Square has seen dramatic economic, residential, and commercial changes in the lives of the project’s interviewees. The HOHP highlights the joys, heartbreaks, triumphs, and tragedies of those changes – underscoring the neighborhood’s distinctive character and the forces that shaped American urban life. Dr. Reber said the project is especially meaningful as the College began in Journal Square with a single, rented building, and its physical growth – which now includes more than a dozen buildings – has served as the catalyst for the area’s revitalization.

The HCCC project includes faculty, student fellows, and community members from all walks of life. The project has provided valuable opportunities for HCCC students to work in the Humanities. Three project interns received training in oral history interviewing and transcript editing. They participated in events including Neighborhood Stories, HCCC 50^th Anniversary Kickoff, and Oral History Workshop. Separately, HOHP developed the Microhistories Fellowships, which provide Student Fellows with a stipend, program support, and technical resources to carry out their own oral history projects. The first group of Fellows is focusing on backstories and challenges of Black business owners and spotlights emerging young, Black entrepreneurs; showcasing how literature builds community among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color; and producing documentary podcasts featuring interviews with underprivileged citizens and addicts to compassionately depict the dangers in their daily lives.

“Higher education has always been a driving force in societal progress,” said Holly Mendelson, owner and publisher of Insight Into Academia. “These institutions remind us that the true measure of higher education lies not only in the degrees awarded, but in the lives they uplift. Their leadership strengthens communities, inspires students, and sets a standard of excellence for all.”

Hudson County Community College’s Hudson Oral History Project will be featured in the April 2026 issue of Insight Into AcademiaMagazine.

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Hudson County Community College (HCCC) has been recognized as a national finalist in six American Association of Community Colleges’ Awards of Excellence categories. Pictured here: members of the HCCC Advancing Institutional Equity and Belonging team; HCCC-New Jersey Reentry Corporation leadership; Faculty Innovation Finalist Joseph Gallo; Rising Star Manager Finalist Amaalah Ogburn; Rising Star Executive Finalist Dr. Heather DeVries; and Faculty Member Finalist Karen Hosick.

For the second time in three years, Hudson County Community College (HCCC) programs, faculty, and staff are finalists for six of ten American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Awards of Excellence. HCCC is the only community college in the United States to be honored as finalists in so many categories. Nationwide winners will be announced at AACC’s Annual Conference, April 10-14, 2026  in Seattle, Washington.

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 Hudson County Community College has hired Carlos Cueto as Women’s Basketball Head Coach (left), and Ethan Nardone as Men’s Basketball Head Coach.

February 4, 2026, Jersey City, NJ – Hudson County Community College (HCCC) has hired two head basketball coaches with winning records who are committed to player development. The coaches were hired as the College prepares to inaugurate an athletics program at the HCCC Center for Student Success, which is currently under construction. 

“We are excited to have Carlos Cueto and Ethan Nardone work with HCCC Director of Athletics Jonathan Sisk in organizing, launching, and leading our basketball programs,” said HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber. “With their experience and passionate commitment to developing students who excel in academics and athletics, Carlos and Ethan will motivate our student athletes to give their best on and off the court.”

Carlos Cueto, the Head Coach for HCCC Women’s Basketball, is revered as a player and coach. The former University of Richmond point guard finished his playing career as the “#3 All-Time” in assists. He was named All-County at St. Anthony’s High School in Jersey City, where he played on two state championship teams. Mr. Cueto coached Union City Girls’ Basketball to state sectional and league championships. He mentored many student athletes who earned athletic and academic scholarships. 

The two-time “Hudson County Coach of the Year” led Secaucus High School Boys’ Basketball to their first league championship in over 20 years. His basketball academy in Union City helps youth ages nine and up improve their game. Mr. Cueto taught History and Financial Literacy at Union Hill High School. He holds a Master’s degree in Supervision and Administration in Education from Saint Peter’s University and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Richmond. 

Ethan Nardone, the Head Coach for HCCC Men’s Basketball, is a National Basketball Association operations specialist who coached National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Divisions I and III, and high school teams. Mr. Nardone led the Abraham Joshua Heschel School Boys’ Varsity Basketball to their first postseason appearance since 2019 and coached two Yeshiva League Pass All-Star game selections. As Men’s Basketball Video Coordinator for Iona College, he tracked game defensive efficiency and strategic adjustments and maintained a recruiting database, scouting reports, and player practice breakdowns. Mr. Nardone was the Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach for State University of New York at Canton and Potsdam teams, and Franklin and Marshall College. In these roles, he rebuilt rosters, helped improve player scoring range, and led teams to winning seasons. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Stony Brook University and attended St. John’s University School of Law. 

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Caption: Hudson County Community College (HCCC) will offer “Steve Madden Presents the 2026 Career Closet Fashion Show: Your Runway to Success”  on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at the HCCC Culinary Conference Center in Jersey City. Pictured here are HCCC students and staff on the runway at the last fashion show.

 January 23, 2026, Jersey City, NJ – Hudson County Community College (HCCC) is proud to welcome Steve Madden, Ltd. As the premier sponsor of the Hudson Helps Resource Center (HHRC) Career Closet Fashion Show, an annual fundraiser supporting student success and workforce readiness.

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Kevin Richardson of the Exonerated Five will be the keynote speaker at Hudson County Community College’s Fourth Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. The January 29, 2026, event will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the HCCC Culinary Conference Center, 161 Newkirk Street in Jersey City, NJ.

While advocating economic and racial equity, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. declared, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” The civil rights icon was jailed 29 times for petty offenses. The late U.S. Representative John Lewis called it “good trouble,” highlighting a struggle he said may continue for lifetimes and generations. Dr. King’s vision underscores sharing human experiences and bridging divides. More than half century after his assassination, Dr. King’s legacy continues to inspire.

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