Montclair Scholarship Fund Awards Half a Million Dollars to Montclair High School Seniors

Holding their award envelopes, many of the Montclair High School recipients of scholarships provided by the Montclair Scholarship Fund in 2026 stand together on the steps of the MHS amphitheater on June 11.

Montclair, NJ — The Montclair Scholarship Fund (MSF) awarded $501,000 in scholarship assistance to 52 Montclair High School (MHS) seniors at its annual awards ceremony on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at the high school amphitheater. Recipients will be pursuing higher education at colleges and universities across the country, as well as some trade schools. Every student receiving an award administered through MSF on Thursday received at least $9,000, while some students received as much as $20,000.

Among this year’s recipients, thirteen students will be the first in their families to attend college, a transformative achievement for students and their families. In addition, seventeen recipients have chosen to continue their education in New Jersey, strengthening the state’s future workforce and communities. “The extraordinary generosity of the Montclair community continues to transform lives,” said Lisa Prince, MSF Co-President, “Every scholarship awarded represents neighbors investing in the potential of our young people and ensuring that financial circumstances do not stand in the way of their aspirations.”

Approximately two-thirds of the funds distributed by MSF each year come from named scholarships established in memory of Montclair residents, by MHS alumni, or by local businesses. The remaining funds are raised through community contributions received during MSF’s annual appeal. There were four new named scholarships established this year, including the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, the DiGeronimo Family Heart of Montclair Scholarship, the Mann Family Scholarship, and the Roger Drill and Lettie Teague Vocational School Award.

The total amount of the awards marked a historic milestone for MHS, which was established in 1957 by the Montclair Board of Education. “We have been close to the half million mark for several years,” said Melissa Moore, MSF Co-President, “which is due to the collective support of our donors and volunteers, who enable these students to pursue their goals and remind them that an entire town is cheering them on.”

Entirely volunteer-run, MSF works closely with the Montclair High School guidance department to identify eligible students and encourage them to apply. The most important qualification is financial need while some scholarships have additional academic or extracurricular interest criteria. One hundred percent of donations fund student scholarships. To contribute, or to find out more about the Montclair Scholarship Fund. see the pages on this website.