With his STEM leanings, Quincy says it is his plan to be a dentist. He explains, “People think its weird, but I really want to be a dentist. I want to help people with their teeth. Because I have braces and I know how much of a pain they are—if I can help someone else with this, then that will be good.”
The “Journey to Medicine Program—building the pipeline to future physicians” is part of the Gateway Medical Society’s Youth Mentorship Program.
He completed two projects during the program, one in the field of his interest—on the dangers of gum disease—and the other on bone cancer. He explains, “I was actually having pains in my knees and got kind of worried, so I did the research and it was so interesting that I made it my other project.”
As a student at Pittsburgh Langley K-8, he maintained a 4.0 GPA, consecutively stayed on high honor roll, and received citizenship honors as well. As a result of his early academic success, he was a recipient of a national recognition directly from President Barack Obama for the Presidential Scholars Award.
Academic excellence is just one piece of the “whole” that is Quincy’s make up. He is respected by his peers because of his basketball skills, and he helps elementary students with reading and robotics through his job with Neighborhood Learning Alliance (NLA), where he started as a summer “Tech Warrior.” Staying with the program as a “Reading Warrior” at Pittsburgh Arsenal 6-8 in Lawrenceville, he teaches middle-school students robotics, 3-D printing, tutors biology and reads to children in an evening program. On Saturdays, he continues work with student interns in the “Tech Warriors” program, where he helped develop and teach basic fundamentals and command essentials for app development and robotics.
NLA Executive Director Steve MacIsaac explains, “Reading Warriors are trained by teachers and librarians to plan lessons and pick books. Working with African-American students and foreign students who are struggling with the language, the ‘Warriors’ teach skill building, as well as helping their students develop a passion for reading. Because Quincy has his own passion for reading, this makes it easy for him.”
His seventh- and eighth-grade reading teacher at Langley, Denise Snell, submitted Quincy’s essays for the “Do the Write Thing” competition. Ran by Allegheny County Common Pleas Court Judge Dwayne Woodruff and his wife, Joy, this program seeks to empower students to break the cycles of violence in their homes, schools and neighborhoods.
“Quincy is an outstanding example of what a student should be: focused, respectful and hard-working; never an issue with discipline; and always willing to do anything to be of assistance,” Snell says. “He is actually one of the top three students from our school; I’m anxious to see how he continues to excel.”
Quincy resides in the West End with his mom, Tiffany Stanley, manager of enrollment at Gateway Health, and his aunt, Tamiko Stanley, who is a senior level human resources executive and senior advisor.
“I just tried to instill in him the importance of education as well as the importance of giving back,” his mother says. “We felt our kids needed to know that they were fortunate and this was not to be taken for granted.”
His aunt adds, “As single moms, we know our task is to let them know that they are capable of excellence and that we expect it of them. We also know that keeping them grounded is equally as important as celebrating their achievements. Grounding is strong factor in successfully overcoming challenges we know, as a black man, Quincy is going to face.”
Quincy has quiet but confident words regarding his achievements.
“My mom raised me to be a good son,” Quincy says, “plus I push myself to excellence. Also, my friends don’t lead me astray. I try to lead them, especially in basketball and STEM activities.”
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