As high school seniors start making their college decisions, some students at Carver High School of Engineering and Science aren’t looking far, just a few blocks down the road to Temple University.
Carver Principle Darryl Johnson says Temple is a popular choice among students.
“We have a lot of students who are definitely interested in Temple,” Johnson said. “We just had our college day on October 13, and there were a lot of questions around Temple.”
That interest is partly thanks to a new college mentorship program started by Temple Police Officer Leroy Wimberly. In less than a year, the program has nearly doubled in size, from 42 students last semester to 47 this semester.
Officer Wimberly’s goal is simple: help Carver students find their path to higher education without the financial stress that often comes with it.
“I reach out to different organizations outside of Temple for scholarships to help the young men and women when they get here,” he said.
Those efforts are already paying off. Former Carver students like Miriam Chapman and Rayanne Naciri, now freshmen at Temple, credit Officer Wimberly for guiding them through the process.
“He can help me be like a guide or a mentor, and that’s what he ultimately was,” Chapman said.
“He’s kind of like a father figure for us at Temple,” Naciri added.
For many students, the program eases the stress of figuring out college and finances.
“It gets rid of a lot of stress, like, how am I going to pay for this?” Naciri said.
“He cares so deeply about me and wants me to succeed,” Chapman said. “It feels great to have that person.”
Officer Wimberly hopes to continue expanding the program and beat this year’s Carver enrollment record of 47 students next semester.
Reporter: Shayla Cotterman
Photographer: Anthony Roscoili, Charly Schultz
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