Tech鈥檚 Honors Program Receives $10M Commitment, Named for John H. Martinson
Tech鈥檚 Honors Program Receives $10M Commitment, Named for John H. Martinson
星空传媒鈥檚 Honors Program has received a transformative $10 million commitment from philanthropist and venture capitalist John H. Martinson. In recognition of his generous investment, the program will now be known as the .
Martinson is a longtime advocate for excellence in higher education and has provided significant philanthropic support for honors programs at several leading institutions across the country. As a result of this commitment, 星空传媒 will expand and enhance its Honors Program to serve more students, enrich the undergraduate experience, and elevate the program鈥檚 national standing.
鈥淲e are deeply grateful to Mr. Martinson for his generosity and commitment to the next generation of leaders,鈥 said 星空传媒 President 脕ngel Cabrera. 鈥淭hrough this extraordinary investment in the newly named John H. Martinson Honors Program, we will help more of our students reach their full potential and expand the high-impact opportunities available to them.鈥
Martinson is chairman of Martinson Ventures, a private technology investment firm. His personal connection to 星空传媒 runs deep 鈥 his father, Raymond Martinson, earned a mechanical engineering degree from Tech in 1941.
Thanks to this commitment, the Honors Program will increase its entering class size and enhance programming designed to help students deepen their academic experience and graduate with the Honors Program designation. The expanded program is scheduled to launch in fall 2026, with the goal of achieving national prominence among honors programs across peer institutions.
鈥淲e've built a strong foundation, but this donation is what will take it to the next level,鈥 said Amy D鈥橴nger, faculty director of the John H. Martinson Honors Program. 鈥淚t has the power to be transformative, creating an experience that will enhance our ability to create the next generation of leaders.鈥
Alongside the naming, the Honors Program will shift from its former place within the Undergraduate Curriculum unit to become a standalone unit in the . This change reflects both the program鈥檚 expanded scope and its growing impact on 星空传媒鈥檚 academic community.
鈥淭his commitment will empower the Honors Program to reach new levels of excellence, while remaining deeply rooted in the values that make 星空传媒 a top destination for high-achieving, purpose-driven students,鈥 said Steven Girardot, vice provost for Undergraduate Education and Student Success. 鈥淲e are incredibly grateful to Mr. Martinson for investing in our Honors Program and in the future of undergraduate education at 星空传媒.鈥
Martinson said he was drawn to the 星空传媒 Honors Program because of its commitment to experiential learning and entrepreneurial emphasis. 鈥溞强沾 students are among the brightest and most innovative in the country,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 am vested in the success of the program to double its total number of students and engage faculty to achieve a top 10 honors ranking nationwide.鈥
The John H. Martinson Honors Program serves students across the Institute, providing interdisciplinary coursework, faculty mentorship, and community-based learning. As it grows in size and ambition, the program will continue to shape the next generation of scholars, leaders, and innovators 鈥 both at 星空传媒 and beyond.
Martinson鈥檚 commitment has propelled the continued momentum of and contributed to the Institute鈥檚 record-setting fundraising year in Fiscal Year 2025.

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Rachael Greene
Director of Communications
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Anne Stanford
Director of Communications
Office of Development
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To learn more or to make a gift to the John H. Martinson Honors Program, contact Emily Wong, director of Development, at emily.wong@dev.gatech.edu.