Article written by Rishaun A. Hall, MPA, Cristo Rey Philadelphia '16

The city of Philadelphia is home to over 1.4 million residents. Philadelphia is a leader in culture, culinary aperture, and sports fandom. However, with the onset of the pandemic, Philadelphia grappled with high poverty rates, unemployment, and a surge in gun violence.

During that time, Philadelphia recorded historical highs in shootings, violent crimes, and most tragically, homicides. Among the many lives lost to gun violence was Shyheem Omar Robinson, a member of Cristo Rey Philadelphia’s second graduating class of 2017.

Shyheem Robinson was shot and killed on October 2, 2020 in North Philadelphia. So much more than a statistic, Shyheem was a beloved son, an outspoken classmate, and a brother to his Cristo Rey family. He was one of the first Cristo Rey Philadelphia students –a bricklayer– laying the foundation for future students and the success of the school.

Shyheem had an undeniable, unforgettable and irreplaceable charisma woven into his jokes, his smile and his infectious laughter. Creativity was second nature to him, expressed through his music—where his talents garnered over 250,000 plays on SoundCloud—and on the basketball court, where he became a fan favorite for the Cristo Rey Philadelphia Blue Pride.

In the wake of his passing, the Robinson family lost a son and brother, while the Cristo Rey community lost one of its own. Such a loss left a deep and lasting impact.In honor of Shyheem Robinson’s legacy, Rishaun Hall ’16, created the Shyheem Robinson Legacy Scholarship. The purpose of this scholarship is to honor Shyheem’s legacy and provide a Cristo Rey Philadelphia graduating senior with a $4,000.00 college scholarship, to be dispersed evenly across four years at an accredited university.

Applicants must hold a cumulative 2.5 GPA and participate in Cristo Rey Philadelphia Athletics. Recipients are entrusted with carrying forward Shyheem’s name and legacy through their academic achievements and in life as a person for others.

Since its inception, the scholarship has raised over $12,000 and has been awarded to three Cristo Rey students.The inaugural recipient, Class of 2023 graduate Joshua Wyche, was the first ever Division I basketball recruit from Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School. Mr. Wyche attends Lafayette College where he studies Economics with a minor in Anthropology. 2024 recipient, Kennith Volcy, currently attends Temple University and is pursuing a degree in Computer Science. As a track & field sprinter, Kennith set several school and personal records throughout his time at Cristo Rey. The third and newest recipient, Aidan Paul Flemingramsey, will join the Rowan University Class of 2029, where he plans to major in Psychology and minor in Education, with a clear and compassionate goal: to become a school counselor and make a lasting difference in the lives of young people.

Throughout his high school career, Aidan has distinguished himself as a smart, outgoing, and deeply involved student leader. His impressive list of extracurriculars includes the Entrepreneurs Club, Student Ambassadors Club, Garden Club, and the National Honor Society. He’s also a dedicated athlete, competing in both Cross Country and Track, where he specializes in the 400m and 800m events—bringing the same focus and determination to athletics as he does to academics and service.

Scholarship founder, Rishaun Hall hopes that this scholarship serves as a message to Philadelphia - a city that has seen both the devastation of violence and a recent decline in shootings and homicides - that the lives of young Black and Brown people lost during this period in time will not be forgotten; that Shyheem Omar Robinson will not be forgotten and will not be another statistic.

Mr. Hall’s hope for the Cristo Rey community is that students and alumni alike remember that wearing the Cristo Rey crest means more than being a student - it means being a bricklayer, a trailblazer, an innovator, a free thinker, and, most importantly, part of a family. A family that extends across the nation, supporting you in times of triumph and adversity alike. From Philadelphia to California, you are loved, remembered and supported. While no scholarship can ever replace the loss of a friend, brother, or son, the Shyheem Robinson Legacy Scholarship ensures that Shyheem’s name lives on, inspiring future generations to believe, dream, lead, and serve. 

To donate, please visit: https://cristoreyphiladelphia.org/?form=ShyheemRobinson