Branchburg resident Vanessa Gunawan has been named Immaculata High School’s Class of 2026 Valedictorian, while Toby Moreno of Somerset has been named Salutatorian.
Somerville, NJ, May 14, 2026 – Vanessa Gunawan of Branchburg, who will pursue a Finance degree at the prestigious Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, has been named valedictorian of Immaculata High School’s Class of 2026. Toby Moreno of Somerset, who will pursue a Joint Bachelor/MD in medicine at Seton Hall University in South Orange, has been named salutatorian.
A Baccalaureate Mass for the Class of 2026 will be held on Thursday, June 4, at 6 p.m. at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 35 Mountain Ave., Somerville. Commencement will take place the next morning, Friday, June 5, at 10 a.m. at the same location. Monsignor Joseph Celano, Pastor and Director of Schools at Immaculate Conception Parish, will confer diplomas along with a representative of the Diocese of Metuchen. Gunawan and Moreno will deliver remarks.
Immaculata High School Principal Ed Webber praised both students for their exceptional accomplishments and embodiment of the school’s values.
“We are so proud to recognize Vanessa Gunawan and Toby Moreno, respectively, as valedictorian and salutatorian of the Class of 2026,” said Webber. “They embody the Four Pillars of Immaculata—Faith, Scholarship, Service, and Friendship. Through their academic excellence, leadership, and dedication to others, Vanessa and Toby have left a lasting impact on our school community. We look forward to seeing all they will accomplish in the future.”
Vanessa Gunawan
Valedictorian Vanessa Gunawan, daughter of Albert and Christina Gunawan, attended Immaculate Conception School in Somerville before advancing to the parish high school, the only parochial high school in the Diocese of Metuchen.
Pursuing a Finance degree at Wharton, Gunawan hopes to become a business owner and a philanthropist focused on expanding financial literacy and creating access to resources for underprivileged families. “I am passionate about addressing housing insecurity and helping families to build long-term financial stability,” she said.
At Immaculata, Gunawan stood out for her academic achievements and student leadership. She was a member of both the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society, vice president of the Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society, and participated in the rigorous Marian Scholars program. She served as vice president of the Student Council and president of the Asian American Pacific Islander Club.
Gunawan achieved many academic accolades outside of Immaculata as well. She is a New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship Finalist; a Higher Education Student Assistance Authority Finalist, placing her among the top 15 percent of all New Jersey high school seniors; an Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone Diploma candidate, and an AP Scholar with Distinction. She was recognized for over 250 hours of service during her senior year with the Gold Immaculata High School Volunteer Service Award.
Active in Immaculata’s Campus Ministry, Gunawan was a senior retreat leader and a participant in the program’s annual service trip to Appalachia. She co-founded a service initiative with HomeFront New Jersey that raised funds and provided baskets of essentials for women and infants.
In addition to her acceptance at Wharton, Gunawan received offers and awards totaling over $1 million from colleges including Villanova University School of Business, Northeastern University, the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, Indiana University, Rutgers University, and Pennsylvania State University.
Toby Moreno
Salutatorian Toby Moreno, son of Emmanuel and Diagelia Nervez Moreno, attended Saint Matthias School in Somerset before coming to Immaculata. He hopes to one day become a pulmonologist.
A leader at Immaculata, Moreno was a member of the Student Council Executive Board and captain of the cross country and track and field teams. He received a 2026 NJSIAA Scholar-Athlete award.
For most of his high school career, he was a member of the Marian Scholars Program, Advanced Placement Capstone program, and the National Honor Society, the French Honor Society, and the Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society. He participated in the high school’s prestigious Professional Exploration Program (PrEP) in Health Science for three years, and was a leader in Math League, as well.
Endowed with musical talent, Moreno was a member of the Spartan Choir, the Chamber Choir and Music Ministry, and performed in the school’s spring musicals. Like many at Immaculata, Moreno was committed to service, first as an altar server at St. Matthias Church and then as a retreat leader for his peers and younger students at the parish’s elementary school, Immaculate Conception School. He is a recipient of the Bronze Presidential Volunteer Service Award.
In addition to nearly $200,000 in scholarships awarded by Seton Hall, Moreno was offered scholarships totaling nearly three-quarters of a million dollars from area universities. They include Stevens Institute of Technology, Rutgers University Honors College, and New Jersey Institute of Technology. He is a designated AP Scholar, as well.
Moreno credits the strong work ethic established at home and extended at Immaculata for his academic success. “I hope to one day translate all I have learned to a career as a physician and to making a difference,” he concluded.
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Immaculata High School, a co-ed college preparatory high school founded in 1962, is committed to the development of the whole person within the framework of Catholic traditions and values. Guided by the pillars of Faith, Scholarship, Service, and Friendship, Immaculata integrates a challenging academic curriculum that promotes spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and social growth while fostering moral responsibility to self and others. For more information, visit: immaculatahighschool.org