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Robinson sees more continuing to college

A record 50 percent of Robinson High graduates will go to four-year colleges. Many are the first in their families to go.

By ELISABETH DYER
Published May 27, 2005

Earlier this month, Robinson High School senior Julio Rivera and 16 classmates piled into a black stretch Hummer limo and headed to 42nd Street Bistro in SoHo to celebrate earning straight A's.

This fall, he plans to go to Georgetown University and "maybe one day be a secretary of state," he said.

Rivera was part of a bumper crop of Robinson graduates headed to college - many of them on scholarships.

A record 50 percent will go to a four-year college, said Barbara Simmons, Robinson's guidance resource specialist. About 35 percent will go to a two-year school.

"It's exciting to see the numbers skyrocket," she said.

Of the 250 seniors who graduated, 106 earned scholarships totaling $2.8-million. Last year, 90 seniors received scholarships, compared to 76 in 2003. Class size has held steady at 250.

Robinson principal Laura Zavatkay, who attended the lunch party, credits Simmons for helping raise those numbers.

Simmons came to Robinson three years ago. She brought with her five years of experience volunteering at Plant High School with Margaret Gandy, Plant's former college and financial aid guru.

"I'm going into homerooms every day," Simmons said. "I'm reviewing transcripts constantly and telling them about deadlines.

"I tell them, "Take your SATs and ACTs.' "

It made the difference for senior Victor Zhong, who relied on Simmons to land scholarship money.

"If it weren't for her, I would have applied for like two scholarships probably as opposed to like 42," he said.

Zhong will share a room at the University of Florida with Edward DeCambra, this year's class valedictorian. DeCambra plans to be an engineer. Zhong, who ranked third at Robinson, may go to medical school.

Neither students' parents went to college. Zhong's parents grew up in China and did not graduate from high school.

"The overwhelming majority of the students here are first generation going to college," Simmons said.

For Zhong, making it to college will fulfill his parents' dream.

"They really want me to succeed."

Elisabeth Dyer can be reached at 226-3321 or edyer@sptimes.com

[Last modified May 26, 2005, 08:35:17]