Passaic Today

Montclair State University recently hosted its largest Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Empowerment Conference, welcoming 771 students from across New Jersey. The event included participants from Montclair, Bloomfield College of Montclair State University, and seven other institutions in the state. Rutgers University Newark and Essex County College joined the conference for the first time this year.

EOF Director Rahjaun Gordon noted the growing interest from other universities: “Other universities and EOF programs see the value in the cross-campus connections and how we are empowering and pouring into EOF Scholars, and they want to be a part of that.”

The EOF Summer Program is one of several early-college initiatives at Montclair designed to support students—many of whom are first-generation college attendees—as they transition to university life. Programs such as EOF, Summer Bridge Scholars Program, and Health Careers allow students to earn up to six college credits before their first fall semester. These programs also provide academic support through tutoring, peer mentoring, coaching, workshops on study skills, and community-building activities.

Gordon explained the program’s approach: “We’re building community through group and individual counseling, through cohesive programming and group support of our scholars. We’ve built a huge community of students who before the start of the semester believe that they can achieve something that a lot of their families didn’t have the opportunity to.”

Students who participate in these summer programs tend to earn more credits, maintain higher GPAs, and have better retention rates than their peers. According to Montclair’s Associate Provost for Educational Opportunity and Success Programs Daniel Jean: “It is exciting to watch scholars transition from orientation to completion and build such a strong sense of community,” he said. “The program is designed carefully with multiple campus partners to ensure the scholars feel welcomed, seen and part of the University community.” Statistics show that 95% of EOF participants remain enrolled through spring semester.

Olympian Priscilla Frederick-Loomis addressed attendees at Memorial Auditorium during the conference. She discussed resilience by sharing her own experiences overcoming setbacks in pursuit of Olympic competition: “I want you to understand that the only reason I have this experience is because of my failures. Just because you failed does not mean it’s a life sentence. Stop giving up on you so quickly.” She encouraged patience with personal growth: “Give yourself some time. Most people become their best selves or accomplish their goals in their 50s. You have excellence in your DNA. Nobody can take that from you.”

Several incoming freshmen shared how participation boosted their confidence:

“The biggest thing is the support. Program staff and mentors make it very clear that they will always be right there with you from the start to the end, and that really allows a student to just persevere,” said Esmil Feliz.

Sarah Auguste reflected on her development: “I learned a lot about college and how it’s going to feel. I also learned about myself and how I want to come across to other people throughout my college experience and beyond.”

Laila Winbush commented on making new friends: “Making new friends is the deal. That’s how you get yourself out there. I feel comfortable and at home.”

Acting major Thomas Freeman added: “I met so many people, and we instantly clicked. That’s been my favorite part, the connections. The big switch was being a bit more independent.”

Peer leaders also described positive impacts:

“Serving as a Peer Leader has been an invaluable experience...this role has contributed to me reconsidering my career path; I’m now seriously exploring a future in higher education,” said Anthony Stoica.

Athena Cobos stated: “The Summer Academy was a full circle moment...Meeting all the scholars was my favorite part.”

Montclair's Summer Bridge Scholars program offers both residential/commuter options along with hybrid learning formats; 143 students participated this year while earning discounted credits across various colleges with integrated academic support resources.

The Health Careers Program helps students from disadvantaged backgrounds prepare for medical or science careers by providing mentoring opportunities along with hands-on experiences relevant for competitive admissions into professional schools.

Applications for fall 2025 admission remain open at Montclair State University; registration for summer sessions 2026 begins October 31 while applications for fall 2026 open August 1.