YONKERS, NY — October 15, 2026 — The Yonkers Public Schools 2026 College Fair set an attendance record, with more than 700 high school students taking the first step on the road to higher education.
“This was our biggest turnout of students since the inception of the college fair about a dozen years ago,” said Ms. Roselyn Kendrick-Jones, Executive Director of Guidance. She added, “This was also the first year that the school district organized the fair on its own.”
Ms. Kendrick-Jones assembled an impressive roster of more than 50 colleges, universities and organizations including Penn State University, Vanderbilt University, Boston University, the University of Rochester, Fordham University, SUNY Stony Brook University and St. John’s University, among many others.
“I reached out to a broad array of schools so that our students have options,” said Kendrick-Jones. “We hosted large universities, mid-sized colleges, small liberal arts schools and many schools in the SUNY and CUNY systems.”
School representatives staffed tables scattered throughout the halls at Yonkers High School. At times, the traffic was shoulder to shoulder as families navigated from one school to another. Roosevelt High School senior Manuela Piedrahita was impressed.
“It’s amazing how many schools are here,” she exclaimed. “It’s impressive to see how much support we have here in Yonkers.”
Yonkers High School senior Chloe Constantine noted, “I’m a bit overwhelmed by all of the options, but overall, this has been a fun and helpful experience.”
Chloe’s mother, Nelly Acevedo-Constantine remarked, “This is great. We’ve been able to ask many questions. Of course, the cost of college is a big concern. This will help us make an informed decision.”
In addition to the university and college presentations, Yonkers Partners in Education (YPIE) provided guidance and support to parents applying for financial aid. Representatives walked families through the process of filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
One mother commented, “This wasn’t offered when I was a student. It’s nice to see the effort that’s being made to help my daughter succeed.”
