Montclair State University Receives $5 Million Gift To Transform Honors Program

Press release from Montclair State University:

Montclair State University’s Honors EDGE Program is entering a transformative new chapter thanks to a $5 million gift from venture capitalist and philanthropist John Martinson. This investment will create a distinct and rigorous academic experience, expanding the program’s reach, deepening its curriculum, and opening new opportunities for students — making Montclair a national model for honors education.

In recognition of this extraordinary support, the program will be renamed the John Martinson Honors EDGE Program. With an emphasis on creativity, purposeful leadership development, meaningful community involvement, and interdisciplinary learning, the enhanced honors program aims to provide hands-on experiences that prepare students to become leaders, innovators and change-makers.

A New Era for Honors at Montclair

Reflecting on the significance of the gift, Montclair President Jonathan Koppell said:

“John Martinson’s generous philanthropic investment could not come at a more critical moment. By accelerating the growth and evolution of the honors program at Montclair, a university committed to accessibility and inclusivity, this gift underscores that opportunities to achieve at the highest level must be available to bright, passionate, ambitious students of all backgrounds.

“Achieving that goal is the only way for us to thrive as a state and nation. The John Martinson Honors EDGE Program emphasizes hands-on interdisciplinary learning that cultivates students’ leadership and creativity, thus preparing them to take on the biggest challenges in business and civic life.”

Expanding Access and Inclusion

The gift, Koppell added, “is the latest in an unbelievable series of investments in our shared future.”

John Martinson, chairman of Martinson Ventures, a technology venture capital firm based in Newtown, Pennsylvania, has donated millions to strengthen honors programs at leading universities nationwide, including Purdue, Georgia Tech, Northeastern, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the University of Pittsburgh. Montclair is the tenth institution to join this growing network of Martinson-supported honors programs.

Through this collaborative network, Montclair students and faculty will connect with peers at these institutions, sharing best practices to accelerate success and build a national honors community.

“This investment reflects my deep belief in Montclair’s mission, its accomplished and innovative faculty, strong university leadership, and my confidence that its students will become the next generation of leaders and innovators,” Martinson said. “Their creativity, energy and potential to improve the world inspire my philanthropy.”

Martinson added, “I am excited to help double the size of the Montclair program and expand opportunities for experiential and immersive learning, graduate school preparation, undergraduate research and leadership development.”

What Sets Montclair Apart

The John Martinson Honors EDGE Program (Engage, Discover, Grow, Experience) will feature a curriculum designed to foster imaginative thinking and problem-solving, with creativity embedded as a central pillar.

This investment will make it possible for the University to recruit and retain more top-tier students to its honors program, including incoming transfers and freshmen as well as current students.

Short-term, high-impact travel experiences are emphasized, making transformative opportunities accessible to students who may not be able to commit to a full-semester program.

The mission is to provide opportunities for those who might not otherwise have access to such experiences, allowing them to “take leaps into places and situations they’ve never been,” says Jeff Strickland, executive director of the John Martinson Honors EDGE Program. Admissions will take a holistic approach, considering leadership, creativity and community engagement alongside academic achievement.

Program Enhancements

High-Impact Student Opportunities

Senior Jacob Roby, a double major in Policy Studies and Political Science with minors in Chinese and Global Security and Diplomacy, exemplifies the exceptional caliber of Montclair’s honors program that Martinson’s investment will elevate to even greater heights.

Roby credits Honors EDGE for enabling him to secure prestigious fellowships and internships — including roles as a Research Fellow at the Wilson Center and a Student Fellow at the USDA.

“Montclair State University, especially the honors program, is really what I would call an American Dream university,” Roby says. “It’s still one of those places left in our country where if you work really hard you can achieve a lot, have great experiences and find people who will help you succeed.”

Sara Flores, a sophomore majoring in Linguistics and a first-generation college student, credits the honors program for fostering both academic and civic engagement. As an aspiring ESL teacher, Flores has already presented at a regional honors conference in Pittsburgh and participated in a leadership retreat in Arizona — opportunities she says broadened her perspective on education and community.

Flores’ commitment to service is central to her honors experience. She is active in the Bonner Leader Program and volunteers tutoring adult ESL learners in Paterson and on campus.

Building Community and Alumni Connections

As Montclair prepares to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its honors program and the establishment of the John Martinson Honors EDGE Program, there will be a renewed emphasis on engaging and strengthening the alumni network to provide mentoring, job shadowing and career-focused networking for current students.

With sustained success, Montclair envisions growing its program to 1,000 students within five years and positioning the University to evolve the John Martinson Honors EDGE Program into a stand-alone Honors College. The University welcomes investment from additional partners to advance the program and create more impact for students.

“This extraordinary gift elevates the student experience at Montclair,” says Strickland. “It is transformational for honors and for the entire institution, enabling students to benefit from what we hope will become a nationally recognized program.”

This press release was produced by Montclair State University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.