Alexis d’Ambly Named First-Generation Valedictorian for Centenary’s Class of 2026
Centenary University | Hackettstown, New Jersey
She will attend Seton Hall University this fall for a master’s degree in English with a concentration in writing before embarking on a career as a university professor and author.
HACKETTSTOWN, NJ, May 21, 2026—As a first-generation college student, Alexis d’Ambly had no one to guide her when it was time to apply for college and financial aid. Concerned about accruing too much student debt, the Hackettstown resident decided to earn an associate degree from Warren County Community College before enrolling to study writing at Centenary University, where she received a generous merit-based scholarship.
“As a first-gen student, I didn’t know what to expect in college,” d’Ambly explained. “As a kid, I was told that I had to go to college, but I didn’t really know where to start. After earning my associate degree, I chose Centenary because it’s local—I already knew that the university has a really good writing program. There’s also a great campus community here. It’s the type of environment where I could really get involved.”
At Centenary, d’Ambly excelled academically and as a campus leader. On Saturday, May 16, she graduated as the first-generation valedictorian of the Centenary University Class of 2026 with a Bachelor of Arts in Writing and a minor in English. She earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average (GPA) and delivered an address to graduating seniors at the university’s Student Leadership and Academic Awards Ceremony on April 29.
During her first semester, d’Ambly was encouraged to join The Cyclone Chronicle—Centenary’s student newspaper—where she quickly worked her way up from copy editor to managing editor. Later, she was promoted to editor-in-chief, a position she’s held for the past two years. d’Ambly said, “Through the newspaper, I really found where I belong. It’s been a way to get involved with the campus community and helped me to become a better writer. I’ve also been involved as a peer writing tutor, and this year, as a member of the yearbook. All of these activities have helped to guide me into figuring out what I want to do next.”
After speaking with several Centenary writing professors, d’Ambly has decided to pursue a career as a university professor. She has been accepted in the master’s program in English with a concentration in writing at Seton Hall University, where she will also serve as a teaching assistant. “At Seton Hall, I’ll be gaining classroom experience teaching first-year writing courses,” noted d’Ambly, who would also like to be an author someday. “One of my Centenary professors was telling me that she gets such fantastic energy from her students as a creative writing professor. That energy then inspires your own writing.”
Thankful for the support she’s received, d’Ambly has pledged to pay it forward by advising other first-gen college students: “I have younger siblings and cousins who have either already started college, or will be looking at colleges soon. Now, I can answer their questions. I’m so glad that I chose to stay closer to home and attend Centenary. Here, they provide a lot of support to first-gen students. This has been a fantastic experience.”
HACKETTSTOWN, NJ, ARTICLE CONTENT
ABOUT CENTENARY UNIVERSITY
Centenary University was founded in 1867 by United Methodists and offers extraordinary learning opportunities that empower students to develop intellectually, emotionally, and interculturally—keys to career and personal success. The University aspires to advance its reputation as a world class institution offering innovative programs, including the world’s first Ph.D. in Happiness Studies and first Master of Arts in Happiness Studies, to lift the future for our students and local communities.