John Robb was a committed teacher and long-time Pasadena resident who believed deeply in the value of education and service to others. He also believed that students should have many paths to a successful career. These are the priorities on which the Business and Technology Academy was built, creating an alternative for students for whom a traditional high school curriculum was not the best approach. The cohort of fellow BTA students has been the supportive community hundreds of students have needed to get traction toward a high school diploma and to chart a post-secondary education path, whether that be community college, trade school or a four-year university.
The annual award recipient is a senior student who is currently enrolled at San Gabriel High School and has been a BTA member for at least their Junior and Senior years. Scholarship recipients are chosen on the basis of their growth and performance in BTA and their commitment to pursuing post-secondary education through college or vocational training.