Today, KIPP and the Sheryl Sandberg and Dave Goldberg Family Foundation (SGFF) announced that senior Breon Robinson has been selected as a recipient of the 2018 Dave Goldberg Scholarship. Breon is among 30 students who were selected from nearly 350 applicants nationwide to be part of this inaugural cohort of Goldberg Scholars.
The Goldberg Scholarship Program was established by the SGFF in October 2017 to support KIPP graduating high school seniors across the country who have demonstrated remarkable leadership and achievement. The scholarship honors the legacy of Dave Goldberg by supporting a new generation of leaders who embody Dave’s qualities of leadership, resilience, achievement, generosity, kindness, independent thinking and entrepreneurial spirit.
As a Goldberg Scholar, Breon will receive a unique combination of financial support and mentoring during his four-year college experience. Highlights include:
- Mentor to provide ongoing support throughout college
- Financial support totaling approximately $15,000 a year to cover a range of non-tuition needs not traditionally covered by college-based financial aid
- Support from Goldberg Connectors to help secure summer internships and job opportunities
- Participation in an annual Goldberg Scholars Summer Leadership Day, where scholars will meet leaders in their chosen fields
“Our family is delighted to partner with KIPP to support a new generation of students who demonstrate so many of Dave’s qualities – especially his kindness, unflagging drive, independent thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit,” said Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO and founder of LeanIn.Org and OptionB.Org. “Dave believed every child deserved a quality education. He would be so proud and hopeful to see the first class of Goldberg Scholars heading to college this fall.”
The 30 recipients of the Goldberg Scholarship have attended KIPP schools in 14 communities. All of the recipients are students of color, and many will be the first in their families to attend college. Any student who attended a KIPP school for either middle or high school and had above a 3.0 GPA was eligible to apply for the Goldberg Scholarship.
“Dave was passionate about the power of ideas and connecting people to make the world better,” said Rob Goldberg, Dave’s brother and Founder and CEO of Fresno. “This scholarship brings those concepts to life in a way that would delight him, especially the focus on mentorship and building a community to support the students from the start of college through their first job.”
Breon was chosen based on his academic record and demonstration of leadership. Currently a senior at KIPP DC College Preparatory, Breon is also a DC OSSE scholar where he got the chance to participate in a rigorous, four week, credit-bearing microbiology class. Breon has a passion for mathematics and wants to work in STEM to break down the barriers that affect African American men in STEM fields. Breon will be attending Duke University in the fall.
“We could not be more excited for Breon,” explains KIPP DC CEO & Founder Susan Schaeffler. “The internships, professional support, and mentorship of the Goldberg Scholars open up huge windows of possibility.”
SGFF selected the national KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) network of public charter schools as its partner for the Dave Goldberg Scholarship program because of KIPP’s proven track record of helping students from educationally underserved communities develop the knowledge, skills, and character strengths necessary to succeed in college and life. KIPP currently operates 16 public charter schools throughout Washington, DC. Nationally, KIPP students graduate from four-year colleges at a rate that is above the national average for all students, and approximately four times the national average for students from similar economic backgrounds.
“We are thrilled that Breon, and all of this year’s Goldberg Scholars, will have the incredible support offered by this scholarship as they look to the future and begin reaching for their dreams,” said Richard Barth, CEO of the KIPP Foundation. “The Goldberg Scholarship program is a phenomenal tribute to Dave Goldberg’s life and legacy.”
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For more information contact:
Rebecca Raber, rraber@kipp.org, 415-905-0910,
Adam Rupe, adam.rupe@kippdc.org, 216-849-4572
