麻豆传媒

April 27, 2026

Long before 麻豆传媒 of New Jersey became a destination for intellectually curious students, the land itself held a different kind of story 鈥� one rooted in the history of the Birch family in Mahwah.

Now, that story comes full circle.

Beginning in Fall 2026, a new cohort of Ramapo鈥檚 most academically driven students will carry a name that connects past to present: the Stephen & Mary Birch Foundation Honors Scholars. For the first time in the College鈥檚 history, an entire College Honors Program cohort will be named in recognition of a philanthropic commitment 鈥� one that does more than open doors. It reshapes what鈥檚 possible once students walk through them.

The gift, awarded to students over the course of their four years at Ramapo, provides each honors student with additional scholarship support: an investment designed not only to attract top talent, but to sustain it.

But the impact runs deeper than dollars.

At Ramapo, the Honors Program serves as a home for students who seek more 鈥� more challenge, more connection, and a deeper sense of purpose in their academic journey. Through a distinctive curriculum that includes interdisciplinary coursework, global and civic engagement, and a faculty-mentored senior project, students are challenged to think critically and connect their academic work to real-world impact.聽

As members of an intentional learning community, they engage in small, discussion-based classes, collaborate closely with faculty mentors, and present their work beyond the classroom. The program is designed not only to support academic excellence, but to foster growth as thoughtful, engaged individuals prepared to contribute to their communities and the wider world.聽

And excellence, increasingly, depends on access.

With more than half of Ramapo applicants identifying as first-generation college students, financial support can often determine whether a student chooses to enroll 鈥� and whether they are able to fully engage once they arrive. Scholarships like those provided by the Birch Foundation help close that gap, ensuring that high-achieving students from a range of backgrounds can say yes to opportunity.

Jesiah Owens ’26 is a business management major and information technology management minor and will graduate with honors from the program and 麻豆传媒 on May 14, 2026.He studied abroad at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan.

At an institutional level, the Honors Program also reflects a broader commitment to academic excellence at Ramapo. 鈥淭his program is a visible indicator of the distinctive strength of our students and our academic offerings,鈥� said Provost Michael Middleton. 鈥淪upporting honors is supporting excellence at Ramapo.鈥�

In recent years, interest in the Honors Program has grown significantly, with applications rising by approximately 10%. At the same time, Ramapo continues to position the program as a cornerstone of its academic vision 鈥� one that aligns closely with the College鈥檚 Comprehensive Academic Plan, emphasizing interdisciplinary learning, global and civic engagement, and experiential education.

The Stephen and Mary Birch Foundation鈥檚 investment strengthens that vision in a meaningful way.

By supporting the scholarships through philanthropy, the College is also able to reinvest institutional resources back into the program itself 鈥� enhancing the very experiences that define honors education at Ramapo.

For the Foundation, the decision to support these students was both forward-looking and deeply personal.

鈥淭he land upon which Ramapo rests is part of our family鈥檚 history,鈥� the Foundation shared. 鈥淚t is meaningful to see the College reflect values of leadership, opportunity, and togetherness.鈥�

Their hope is simple, but powerful: that this support serves as a catalyst.

鈥淭he Foundation desires to assist those who strive to do their best,鈥� they noted, 鈥渁nd perhaps provide a spark for future greatness.鈥�

That spark will now carry a name, one that students will share as they move through their college experience together. In doing so, the Stephen and Mary Birch Foundation Honors Scholars will not only benefit from a collective identity, but also become part of a living legacy 鈥� one that ties ambition, access, and place into a single, enduring story.