Our Story

Rox of Hope began in February 2021 as the BIPOC Graduation Support Network, founded by Roxann Whittingham—one of the first Graduation Coaches for Black students in Simcoe County. Having migrated to Canada as a student herself, Roxann intimately understood the challenges many BIPOC youth and their families face navigating the education system. She created this platform to provide mentorship, advocacy, and culturally responsive support, helping students stay in school, graduate, and pursue post-secondary education with confidence.

As a proud graduate of Georgian College’s Child and Youth Care program (Class of 2020), Roxann went beyond her own success to give back. She established the Black Education Empowerment Fund (B.E.E.F.)—a $1,000 annual scholarship awarded to full-time Black students at Georgian’s Orillia Campus. Recipients must demonstrate financial need while maintaining a minimum 70% average. Since its inception, four exceptional students have received this transformative support.

Roxann’s dedication to educational equity has been recognized with prestigious honors, including the County of Simcoe Award in 2022 for her contribution to education, and the SEMBA Award in 2023 for her advocacy and ongoing contribution to education in Simcoe County.

Driven by research showing that 43% of Black high school students in the Toronto District School Board don’t apply to post-secondary education, Roxann’s mission is clear: remove barriers, ignite ambition, and increase Black student representation at institutions like Georgian College.

Through Rox of Hope, she continues building bridges for educational equity—transforming potential into achievement, one student at a time.