Before Arrin Shepp enrolled at Bronx Community College in Spring 2026, he had already mapped out a plan for his future. Among his goals was admission to the prestigious Kaplan Leadership Program, which helps high-achieving community college students transfer to some of the nation’s most selective four-year institutions.
He wrote the program’s name on a Post-it note, stuck it on his board and got to work. Less than a year later, Shepp is one of just 12 students selected nationwide for the Kaplan Educational Foundation’s 2026–2027 cohort of Leadership Scholars.
“This accomplishment is not only for me. It is for my BCC community. It is for my Bronx community,” said Shepp, a first-generation college student who grew up in Brooklyn’s Bushwick and Brownsville neighborhoods and now calls the Bronx home.
A Second Chance, With a Clearer Purpose
Raised by a single mother who worked nights as a correctional officer, Shepp developed an early fascination with science and engineering. But opportunities to explore those interests were limited, and his initial experience at an upstate community college proved challenging. As the first in his immediate family to pursue a college degree, he struggled to navigate higher education without the guidance that many students take for granted.
After leaving college, Shepp returned to New York City and built a career in information technology, earning professional certifications and working as an IT analyst, including nearly two years at Warner Music Group. His experiences reinforced his determination to complete his education.
“I was able to recognize what a college degree could really do,” he explained. Determined to take another shot at college, Shepp researched academic programs, transfer opportunities and resources. Once on campus, he focused on his coursework, sought out opportunities to challenge himself academically and became a member of BCC’s Honors Program.
Opening Doors to New Possibilities
Established in 2006, the Kaplan Leadership Program provides academic advising, financial assistance, leadership development and transfer preparation to high-potential, low-income community college students. More than 90 percent of its scholars go on to earn bachelor’s degrees.
Through the program’s weekly leadership development sessions, college visits and individualized advising, Shepp has connected with 11 fellow scholars who share similar dreams. “The biggest support so far has been advising and community,” he said.
Currently studying computer science, Shepp plans to pursue data science at a four-year institution, with the goal of becoming a data engineer or decision scientist. He hopes to use data to better understand the challenges facing underserved communities and help identify solutions. He envisions analyzing neighborhood-level data to understand how resources are distributed and how those findings might help improve communities like the ones where he grew up.
A Bronx Jewel with a Vision for the Future
Shepp said he has been inspired by BCC President Dr. Larry D. Johnson, Jr.’s description of the College as the “Crown Jewel of the Bronx.” He said the message challenged him to reconsider the limitations he had sometimes placed on his own aspirations. “I never heard or felt anyone refer to us as jewels,” he recalled.
As he prepares for the next chapter of his education, Shepp hopes to encourage other BCC students to pursue opportunities like the Kaplan Leadership Program. He also wants to serve as an example for his younger sister and cousins, reminding them that academic success begins with the habits and expectations they establish early in life.
“Whatever I am doing, it is bigger than me,” he said. “It is about the work that I am going to do to help others.” For Shepp, that work is just beginning.
About Bronx Community College
The Bronx Community College (BCC) is home to more than 40 academic programs that will prepare you to continue your education at a four-year institution or begin your career. In addition to our high-quality academic programs, we offer you the opportunity to learn from our outstanding faculty, create flexible class schedules and grow with the support of our academic community. A Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), we enroll students from nearly 100 countries. Our campus is also home to the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, the country’s first hall of fame. In October 2012, our campus was declared a National Historic Landmark, becoming the country’s first community college campus to receive such a designation.
Featured image credit: DepositPhotos.com
