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Thirteen BPS Students Selected As 2023 Posse Foundation Scholars

Thursday Jan 12, 2023

Students Represent 11 Boston Public Schools; Reside in Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roxbury, the South End, and West Roxbury. Photo Credit: Dana J. Quigley Photography
Students Represent 11 Boston Public Schools; Reside in Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roxbury, the South End, and West Roxbury. Photo Credit: Dana J. Quigley Photography  

Thirteen Boston Public Schools (BPS) students have been awarded four-year, full-tuition merit-based scholarships by the Posse Foundation, totaling $2.5 million. The 13 BPS seniors are among 51 Boston-area students who will be attending Bryn Mawr College, Bucknell University, Centre College, Rutgers University, and Union College.

Founded in 1989, Posse identifies public high school students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential, who otherwise might be overlooked by the traditional college-selection process. Posse places students in supportive, multicultural teams— Posses— of 10 students. Posse Boston honored the BPS scholarship recipients yesterday at Fairmont Copley Hotel at an awards ceremony, and their families, educators and friends joined them.

"As I often say, it takes a village to bring out the best in ourselves and in our communities," said Superintendent Mary Skipper. "Posses are like small villages, and everyone within them has a particular role that helps keep each member on track so that they can grow over time and have a meaningful impact on their school communities. And if we are lucky enough, they'll return to Boston Public Schools to make a difference in our students by sharing their talents and brilliance. Posse Scholars are represented on my executive leadership team and amongst school leaders and teachers, and they have a profound effect on the lives of our students because of their own lived experiences."

Through its traditional program, Posse recruits cohorts of students in Atlanta, the Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and Washington, D.C. Posse also recruits geographically diverse cohorts through its Virtual Program in Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Memphis, Newark, Philadelphia, Phoenix and select cities in Indiana, Minnesota, and Virginia.

"We are so proud of these amazing students as they continue their journey through higher education," said Sakeenah Chapman, Director of the Boston Posse Foundation. "These young people are so inspirational and we cannot wait to see all of the wonderful things they accomplish. We could not do this without the support of our friends at the Boston Public Schools and we look forward to continued collaboration with BPS as we work to change lives every day."

The latest cohort of Posse Scholars from BPS represents 11 schools, and they reside in eight neighborhoods in the City: Dorchester; East Boston; Hyde Park; Jamaica Plain; Mattapan; Roxbury; the South End, and West Roxbury.

"This impressive group of students comes from a cross-section of neighborhoods, schools, and backgrounds," said Boston School Committee Chairperson Jeri Robinson. "They prove schools in our City offer a variety of viable pathways for young people to reach their college dreams."

The following BPS students have been named Posse Scholars this year:

  • Alicia Rose, Jeremiah E. Burke High School

  • Beatrice Riley, Boston Latin Academy

  • Dario Brandao, Boston Latin School

  • Najma Abdi, John D. O'Bryan School of Mathematics & Science

  • Richemie Chery, Henderson K-12 Inclusion School

  • Summer Hession, Another Course to College

  • Viviana Wallace, Boston Latin School

  • Yasamin Kiani, Boston Latin School

  • Jaleel Worrell, Boston Community Leadership Academy

  • Chenaya Valeus, Boston International High School

  • Andres Blanco, Charlestown High School

  • Elianna Soto Martinez, Fenway High School

  • Malaika Allen, Community Academy of Science and Health (CASH)

    "The Posse Foundation has been instrumental in pushing BPS students to think outside the box and consider attending selective colleges and universities outside of Boston and Massachusetts," said John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics and Science Student Development Counselor Valduvino Gonçalves. "The Posse Foundation always has been and will continue to be an integral partner to the Boston Public Schools in support of our students and helping them earn a college degree and do amazing things in life."

    Students in the cohort, or Posse model, will meet and befriend their fellow scholars prior to arriving on campus. The Posse staff and network also will support the cohort throughout their time in college, connecting students to jobs and internships and, most importantly, offering a trusting adult who can help triage and support students when they are away from home.