Carolyn D.
Robinson
Carolyn D.
Robinson
Post Office Box 1115
Sarasota, FL 34230
cadiro@verizon net (home)
carolyn.d.robinson@suntrust.com (work)
941‑358‑9431 (home)
941‑951‑3094 (work, best number)
Riverview High School 1976
Manatee Community College 1978
University of Florida 1980
University of South Florida (current MBA cohort member)
1976 Selby Scholarship Recipient
Amount of Scholarship ‑ $500
As I approached graduation from Riverview High School, I began making college plans that included attending Manatee Community College (MCC) in Bradenton. After I applied and was accepted, it was important for me to assist my parents in their efforts to send me to college. I applied for and was awarded a Selby Scholarship in the amount of $500. The scholarship paid for a portion of my tuition and books during my two years at MCC. I carried the title of Selby Scholar with a sense of pride and accomplishment. With my financial support in place, I looked for ways to give back to the community and add value to my college experience. As a result of my outreach, in two years, I campaigned and was elected as president of the sophomore class, followed by president of the Student Government Association. While attending college, I also worked as an administrative assistant and wrote for the school's newspaper, The Lance. Additional activities included serving as an Elf at a nursing home in Bradenton during the holidays and welcoming incoming freshmen to college. As a result of my activities, I won the Outstanding Community College Student Award from MCC and the Florida Blue Key Award from the University of Florida.
My education has taken me to places beyond my wildest dreams. It has opened and continues to open doors to goals realization and success. As an employee of the Sarasota Family YMCA, I was given the opportunity to share the importance of education with numerous middle and high school students annually. Through activities such as the Annual Statewide College Tour, high school students visit eight campus visits in four days and three nights, or Career Shadow Day, pairing students with professionals for a career exploration experience. My message to them was "Graduation is Our Goal." To my delight many of those same students are contacting me today with their own educational success stories. As a public speaker for local college commencement ceremonies, I have spoken of the importance to let every day be a learning experience and to always look for ways to elevate others through your education. Three and a half years ago, I moved from the nonprofit arena into the for‑profit arena and became an employee with SunTrust Bank. Having never been in the banking industry, the transition offered me an incredible learning curve, filled with many hours of group and personal study. It was time well spent as I was recently promoted to manager of the company's largest branch in southwest Florida. As a manager, I teach and encourage others to be the best that they can be professionally through words of motivation and challenges in learning experiences. Recently, I took my own advice and began another personal pursuit of higher education, that being my quest for a Masters in Business Administration from the University of South Florida. It has been my pleasure to over the years to share the benefit of my education with numerous organizations in the community including: Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, Past Board Member, Past Chairman, Leadership Sarasota; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., member, Past President; Florida Public Relations Association, Gulf Coast Chapter, Past President, Membership committee chairman. Thank goodness for the Selby Scholarship Fund touching my life in such a positive way almost 30 years ago.