The Ellis School senior was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh as a Stamps Scholar
Have you heard of the Stamps Scholars?
It’s not just any scholars program. If a high school senior attains such the honor, they are awarded a full scholarship to say, the University of Pittsburgh, including mandatory fees, room and board, and an allowance for purchasing textbooks.
This award is no joke. To achieve such an award, one must demonstrate academic merit, possess strong leadership potential and exude exceptional character.
Well, meet Taylor Robinson. She is no joke.
The senior at the Ellis School for Girls made the Cum Laude Society last month. She was accepted into 13 colleges, including Notre Dame, Pitt and Northwestern. She was a finalist for many other scholarships. She received first-place honors at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) regionals held at Duquesne University for her science project, “eHealth: Equity and Efficiency,” which analyzed effective communication of cancer prevention awareness on social media.
No joking around here. Robinson says she’s serious about success.
“I’ve been involved in science projects since the sixth grade,” she told the New Pittsburgh Courier. “There’s so many things you can do in the science field,” including social and behavioral sciences, which was the catalyst for her first-place project, “eHealth: Equity and Efficiency.” Robinson worked to find the most effective form of cancer prevention awareness on social media, such as Twitter. She categorized a large amount of tweets into three segments: Educational, which is a tweet that expresses or shares information, such as “Five ways to stop cancer;” Motivational, in which a tweet pushes one to visit a doctor or health professional; and Promotional, which places emphasis on physically attending a cancer awareness event, such as Race For The Cure. Robinson’s project found that overall, educational tweets reach the largest audience.
“The main purpose of the project is, if you are using a more effective way to promote cancer prevention, you’ll have better efficiency in the end. The type of communication of awareness (once it’s known and then utilized) could benefit a larger set of people,” Robinson, 17, said.
Robinson is part of the National Honor Society for World Language. She also is the vice-president of The Ellis School’s Student Diversity League, which promotes racial awareness at the school and to students from other schools. Robinson’s other activities at Ellis included editorial editor of the school newspaper, and currently are peer tutor, school tour guide and member of upper school student council.
Robinson, who wants to become a physician, is part of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, working in cancer biology at the Hillman Center. She’s also looking to gain more clinical experience, by shadowing a doctor, watching surgeries or volunteering in hospitals. Robinson is seeking medical professionals who can assist her in gaining more experience.
“There are two main examples that really define Taylor as a person,” said Carmel Mitchell, Robinson’s mother. “For one, Taylor has always been motivated to do her best and be her best. In the third grade, Taylor received her first ‘C’ in a class, an 84.5 percent. Ever since that one report card, Taylor vowed that she would never get another ‘C’ again. From that point on she has never received below a ‘B’ grade, graduated valedictorian of her eighth-grade class at Sr. Thea Bowman, and was inducted into the Cum Laude society which allows her to graduate with high honors from The Ellis School for Girls.
“In addition, Taylor is opportunistic and takes every chance to make a name for herself,” Mitchell continued. “In my eyes, Taylor is an unstoppable force. When people tell her she can’t do something, she commits herself to achieving the supposedly unachievable.”
Robinson, who will attend Pitt in the fall, said her constant drive to be the best “comes from a lot of sources. It comes from my commitment to the Catholic faith,” she said. “Religion in general really puts you in a different atmosphere, it’s another way to be supported. Just staying on track and keeping my path in mind.”
Robinson also credited F.A.M.E., of which she is a Scholar. The Fund for the Advancement of Minorities Through Education helped Robinson into becoming enrolled at an independent school such as The Ellis School.
Last, but not least, Robinson credits her upbringing, and her mother, Carmel.
“She’s always continuously motivating me to get the job done.”
(Inquiring medical professionals may contact the New Pittsburgh Courier.)
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