RUTHERFORD, NJ – On April 30, Felician University and 200 guests honored James “Jim” D’Agostino, Jr. with the Spark of the Divine Community Leadership Award at the Westmount Country Club. The University community celebrated Jim’s remarkable legacy of industry, philanthropy, and leadership — values that reflect Felician’s commitment to education, community engagement, and faith-inspired purpose.

Jim’s business and family have been notable benefactors and contributors to the University and community for three generations. JD Companies continues to leave an indelible mark on the State of New Jersey through significant contributions to commercial real estate that have impacted local economic development since Jim’s father founded the company in the 1940s.

Jim has long been active in numerous professional and nonprofit organizations in New Jersey and maintains strong ties to Felician, having served on the Board of Trustees from 2017 to 2024, acting as Chairman in his last two years on the Board.

The Spark of the Divine award commemorates the life and spirit of Sr. Theresa Mary Martin, Felician University president for 26 years, who nurtured the “spark of the divine” in every Felician student and cultivated an enduring campus culture of compassion and excellence.

Additionally, Jim was presented with a medal by Lodi Mayor Scott Luna, a congratulatory letter from Senator Cory Booker, and a proclamation from Bergen County Executive, James Tedesco III. Proceeds from the Spark of the Divine event will fund a scholarship in Jim’s name.

One of the event fundraisers, a 50/50 raffle, was won by one of Felician’s most ubiquitous staff members—Carol Lee Martinez. Carol wears multiple hats as the Enrollment Management Administrative Assistant and Military and Veteran Services Coordinator. Congratulations to Carol, who plans to use her winnings to help finance her pursuit of a Master’s in clinical Mental Health at Liberty University.

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About Felician University

Felician University is committed to supporting academic success at any stage of life. With over 2,700 undergraduate, graduate, and adult education students enrolled across the Schools of Arts & Sciences, Business & Information Sciences, Nursing, and Education, Felician provides diverse learning experiences that equip all students with the skills to meet the demands of today’s society. Over the past five years, Felician University has consistently ranked 3rd among private institutions in New Jersey for best value according to payscale.com and Money Magazine and has been recognized as one of the best college locations in New Jersey (#4) according to niche.com. Our Master of Science in Nursing program is ranked one of the best online graduate nursing programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report and the Princeton Review. We are proud to be designated as a Military Friendly School (Gold Status) for the fifteenth year, a testament to our dedicated support of Veteran students. Our diversity as an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and MSI (Minority Serving Institution), with underrepresented students comprising more than half of the student population, reflects our inclusive and supporting environment and earned us a spot on Washington Monthly’s Top 100 HSI list (#30). With campuses in Rutherford and Lodi, New Jersey, our Franciscan values of respect for human dignity, compassion, and social justice are woven into the very foundation and development of tomorrow’s leaders. Felician University is sponsored by Felician Sisters International.  For more information, please visit https://felician.edu.