BRONX, NY – A wake up call? A reality check? Just really good advice? No matter what you call it, Truman students were treated to an expert guest speaker on the topic of finding success in college. Dennis Richmond, a Yonkers native, is currently a senior at Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC. Claflin is a historically black university.
“I love Dennis!” according to college advisor Andrea Joubert. “The kids really relate to him.”
Joubert says students were happy to hear from someone so close to their age group. One young woman commented that Richmond’s presentation “changed her life.” Several other seniors who had been a part of Richmond’s past presentations remembered him and made it a point to approach him in the hallway and share their college application and acceptance stories.
“He’s one of them. He’s relatable,” Joubert added. “Kids are more willing to listen to and take advice from their peers. He speaks in their voice to capture their attention.”
This school year, Truman formed a team of teachers and staff who set out specifically to boost college interest and applications. That team has taken several trips to college fairs and campus tours.