For Julianne Robbins, a member of this year’s Homecoming court, Penn State was not her first choice of schools to attend.
Going to a very small grade school and an even smaller high school in Newtown, Pa., Robbins (senior-biology) said she felt Penn State’s large community would be “too overwhelming.”
As a child she attended many Penn State football games with her grandparents who had season tickets, she said. Penn State was a large part of her family and her parents pushed her to attend Penn State. Her parents even bought her a stack of Penn State clothes for Christmas one year before she had received any acceptance letters, she said.
After growing up surrounded by “die hard” Penn State fans, Robbins just wanted to go somewhere different, she said. It wasn’t until she visited a friend of hers for a weekend that she realized Penn State was where she wanted to be.
“I called my mom and said, ‘Mom I want to go to Penn State,’” Robbins said.
Robbins is the second oldest of five children. Her youngest brother is her “pride and joy,” she said. She said she’s always excited to show people pictures and talk about him.
“I’m like a proud mother showing off pictures of her kids,” she said, laughing.
“He was born my senior year of high school and he definitely came as a surprise to us all,” she said. “He taught me how to adapt to change and to roll with the punches.”
The large age gap between the oldest four and the youngest child has taught Robbins responsibility.
“Through each of my siblings, I learned responsibility, drive and commitment,” she said. “I always wonder if I’m being a good role model to my younger siblings.”
Her siblings aren’t the only ones she’s trying to make proud. Her grandfather is a “die hard” Penn State fan and when he found out that Robbins had made the Homecoming court, he was “so proud,” she said.
“I like making him proud,” Robbins said.
One of Robbins’ favorite Penn State memories is THON 2012. Robins had floor passes and she said, “being on the floor was amazing. I had chills.” She also got to go on stage and speak during Greeks Hour, which she said was “so cool,” because her friend was studying abroad at the time and was able to watch her on television.
Robbins is active in greek life and is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Her freshman year, she was a Panhellenic delegate, chapter president her sophomore year and last year was its Panhellenic president.
Robbins said she is happy she chose Penn State in the end because it’s given her “so many opportunities.”
As for the future, Robbins said she would love to work for Johnson & Johnson where she interned this past summer. She wants to do something in clinical research because she loves working with people and science pharmaceuticals.
“Where I’m going after that, I’m not sure,” she said.
Robbins’ friend Kate Malboeuf said Robbins deserves to win for “so many reasons.”
“What stands out to me the most is her loyalty. She is the most loyal to her friends, the Panhellenic community, and Penn State,” said Malboeuf (senior-nursing). “She truly holds herself and others around her to a higher standard.”
