JumpStart Cartoonist Robb Armstrong Creates Custom Comic Strip for Church Farm School

When Church Farm School’s Assistant Head of School and Director of Academics Margaret van Steenwyk and Director of Student Life and DEI Chet Blair were pondering a speaker for Parents’ Weekend, they thought back to some of the most impactful speakers they had heard in their school experience. Robb Armstrong, creator of the nationally syndicated comic strip, JumpStart, came immediately to mind as both Margaret and Chet had heard Robb speak at Shipley, Robb’s alma mater. They knew his story of courage, risk-taking, resilience, determination and loyalty to family would resonate for students. Student Body President Frangel Soriano ’22 said talking with Mr. Armstrong changed his life; with this quote particularly resonating: “A lot of people will look to you for your capacity and talent because you have something great. But don’t get distracted. Go for what you love and are meant for.”

Robb’s journey from bright-eyed young man to accomplished artist is not unlike the path many Church Farm School students follow. Born in West Philadelphia and raised by a single mother, a scholarship to Shipley in 7^th grade enabled Robb to cultivate his passions, learn from mentors and build a strong peer group. That “brotherhood” became the theme for a custom comic strip mural Robb created for the school’s Student Life area, a new space created as part of the school’s recent $15.5M campus modernization project. Robb signed the mural on Wednesday, October 20, surrounded by the school’s student leaders, Director of Student Life Chet Blair, Arts Chair Dina Schmidt and Robb’s wife, Crystal, who helped organize the engagement with the school.

Robb addressed Church Farm School parents, faculty, staff and friends at a luncheon on October 16, relaying highlights and struggles from his own journey, including adjusting to being one of only a few Black students at a private Main Line school, the death of his beloved mother and his passion for drawing Peanuts character Charlie Brown. Robb’s love of Peanuts led to his own interest in art and eventually, a lifelong friendship with Charles Schulz, who gave his character Franklin the surname Armstrong in Robb’s honor. Robb’s award-winning comic strip JumpStart is published every day in the LA Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the New York Daily News, the Boston Globe and more than 350 other newspapers in the U.S. and abroad. It can also be seen daily on the Internet at gocomics.com. A book about Robb’s life has been published by Reader's Digest called Fearless: A Cartoonist’s Guide to Life. Following his address to the Church Farm School community, Robb signed copies of his newest book, On a Roll.

 

Robb has been featured on Good Morning America, MSNBC, CNN, BET and Good Day Philadelphia, and articles about him have appeared in Time, People, Ebony and Black Enterprise magazines. His JumpStart characters are on display in Orlando as part of Universal Studios Islands of Adventure theme park. Robb has spoken at the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institute and Syracuse University where he graduated in 1985 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. He has also visited numerous colleges and high schools across the country, using his incredible life story to inspire others.

 

Robb stated at the beginning of his remarks to Church Farm School students, “Church Farm School is an excellent school. How do you achieve greatness? Take everything you learned at that excellent school … and apply it to your new life as a graduate.”

 

You can view photos from Robb’s engagement at Church Farm School here; a video of his address is on YouTube.