Central Jersey College Prep (CJCP) announced this week that New Jersey Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, who currently serves as Chair of the Assembly Housing Committee; Deputy Speaker, member of the Community Development and Women’s Affairs Committees; and member of the New Jersey Legislative Latino Caucus and Executive Committee for the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators will be the school’s 2026 Commencement Speaker for its in-person graduation ceremony taking place on Thursday, June 18th at 5:30 pm.   

Assemblywoman Lopez, who follows a distinguished list of past CJCP Commencement Speakers including – New Jersey civil rights trailblazer and public policy advocate Jeannine LaRue; New Jersey State Senator and Education Committee Chair Vin Gopal; JerseyCAN Executive Director Paula White; New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s Chief Community Development Officer Tai Cooper; The Rev. DeForest B. Soaries, former Secretary of State of New Jersey and chairman of the federal Election Assistance Commission; and New Jersey entrepreneur Randall Pinkett – was first elected to the State of New Jersey General Assembly in November of 2017 and since taking office has championed CJCP and advocated for its community of students, teachers, and parents.

In conjunction with today’s announcement, CJCP also announced that 100 percent of this year’s Senior Class will graduate on time this Spring and attend a college or university next Fall, continuing an unprecedented streak that began sixteen years ago.

This year’s graduating class, which represents 121 students, will once again attend some of the most elite institutions in the country, including Princeton University, Cornell University, University of Virginia, Penn State, New York University, University of Michigan, University of North Carolina, Rutgers University, Kean University, and Montclair State University, many with significant merit-based and need-based scholarships totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“The CJCP community is honored to have Assemblywoman Lopez serve as this Spring’s 2026 Commencement Speaker,” stated Dr. Namik Sercan, CJCP’s Chief Education Officer.  “There is no greater champion of CJCP and Central Jersey public schools than Assemblywoman Lopez, and while we celebrate the great work and results of our senior class, this is also a moment to honor and thank Assemblywoman Lopez for her dedication to our community and her work prioritizing all public school scholars and families within the district.  Assemblywoman Lopez and CJCP have worked side by side to provide a world-class education to every child, regardless of race or income.  From her first day on the job representing our community, she understood the unique strides CJCP has made in serving some of the most at-risk and educationally disadvantaged students living in Central Jersey.  When it comes to public school education, she has always looked beyond politics and special-interest fights, focusing instead on data, results, and the voice of Central Jersey parents.  It is because of her friendship and deep passion for doing what is right that CJCP can provide our community with a great education and ensure our scholars graduate on time and are accepted to college.” 

“CJCP and I believe that every New Jersey public school scholar can succeed if provided with access to great teachers, facilities, and a strong learning environment,” stated New Jersey Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez. “CJCP and its sister school, Middlesex County STEM Charter School (MCSCS), have provided our community with wonderful opportunities, facilities, and partnerships for the last sixteen years.  I congratulate CJCP for creating a needed learning environment in our community where parents, regardless of their income bracket, can trust that their child will graduate on time and attend a great college or university the following Fall. CJCP’s efforts have created generational change in our area like no other public school and have shown elected officials in Trenton that many solutions to our education challenges are being solved right here at home. I am so proud of the Class of ‘26 and look forward to shaking every scholar’s hand when they receive their diploma.” 

          WHO:        New Jersey Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez –
                            CJCP’s Commencement Speaker

          WHAT:      CJCP’s Class of 2026 Graduation

          WHEN:      Wednesday, June 18th at 5:30 pm

          WHERE:   Central Jersey Collegiate Prep
                            101 Mettlers Rd, 
                            Somerset, NJ 08873