dc 61 Local Students Earn Posse Scholarships

SPRING 2012
d.c.
61 Local Students Earn Posse Scholarships
D.C. Mayor and City Council Chair Attend Pre-Event Reception
2012 Posse D.C. Scholars
BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY
POSSE 8
Lidya Abune, Jessica Brito,
Juliana Del Pozo, Ramzi Ebeid,
Ahmed Elnaiem, Mahder Etuma,
Brandon Holden, Fariss Nabih,
Kimberley Nidah, Helen Vu
THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS: The newly inducted class of Posse D.C. Scholars are student leaders nominated by
D.C. metro public high schools and community-based organizations.
for D.C. Public Schools Dan Shea also
attended the ceremony along with several
other administrators from area school
districts.
See “AWARDS CEREMONY” on Page ii
Awards Ceremony Sponsors
LAFAYETTE COLLEGE
POSSE 7
Brianna Braswell, Benjamin Bulluck,
IrvinCedillo, Christian Mendoza,
Alleyah Miner, Camila Moscoso,
Vinecia Perkins, Xiomara Rojas-Asqui,
Dale Russell, James Wanda
PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY
POSSE 3
Khaliun Amarburen, Ashton Cane,
Darin Daffin, Shamir Fauntleroy,
Natasha Frazier, Mitchell Holmes,
David Hylton, Caitlin O’Grady,
Anaka Osborne, Kubarikiwa Rudd
SEWANEE: THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH
POSSE 6
Adrian Bowie, Kiera Coleman,
Nicole Fischer-Cosio, Geanina Fripp,
Davante Jennings, D’yahna Jones,
Madison Leathers, Kendrick Mai,
Desiree’ Samuel, Audrey Yatdon
POSSE D.C. SPRING 2012
Posse D.C. presented 61 Scholars
to the greater Washington D.C. metro
community at our annual Awards
Ceremony on January 4, 2012, at the
historic Lincoln Theatre. Over 500 people
filled the theater to celebrate our new class
of Posse Scholars.
Representatives from our six partner
colleges and universities—Bucknell
University, Grinnell College, Lafayette
College, Pepperdine University, Sewanee:
The University of the South and University
of Wisconsin-Madison—were in attendance
to present the Posse Scholars with more
than $8 million in full-tuition scholarships. Prince George’s County Public Schools
Superintendent William Hite, Arlington
Public Schools Superintendent Patrick
Murphy and Instructional Superintendent
GRINNELL COLLEGE
POSSE 8
Aden Bullock, Nicholas Chisholm,
Ebony Chuukwu, Jacquan Clark,
FatuDrame, Christopher Jones,
Jimmy Murillo, LaShae Turner,
Dajá Tyree, Amy Vallis
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
POSSE 4
Affan Ahmed, Enoch Ajayi, Nailah Frye,
Maria Galarce Crain, Jordan Hinkson,
Dequan Jones, Xuan Trang Le,
Stephanie Marquez, Elizabeth Olsen,
D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray (left) speaks to members of the
new class of Posse Scholars at the pre-event reception.
Thomas Pearson-Green, Tulio Quevedo
i
Pepperdine Scholar Begins Political Journey at White House
Demisse Habteselasie, a sophomore
at Pepperdine University and a member
of its first Posse, is taking impressive steps
to accomplish his dream of becoming a
politician.
part
of the
scholar
highlight
Demisse Habteselasie, Pepperdine Posse 1
Demisse’s love for politics led him
to serve in the White House Office of
Presidential Correspondence’s Volunteer
Leaders Program this past fall. At the White
House, Demisse “learned and experienced
the intricate processes dedicated to the
political systems of the Executive Branch.”
This spring, Demisse is continuing his
political journey, this time as a White House
intern working with the staff members
who supervise volunteers for the Office of
Presidential Correspondence. “The best
Demisse Habteselasie, Pepperdine Posse 1, in front of the
White House.
internship is working with such bright
individuals who share the common goal of
helping the United States maintain the tools
to be competitive in the world, but who all
have different methods of achieving it. My
experience with these phenomenal people
makes the internship that much more
surreal.”
MY EXPERIENCE WITH THESE
PHENOMENAL PEOPLE MAKES THE
INTERNSHIP THAT MUCH MORE SURREAL
At Pepperdine, Demisse has also
made an impact in the campus community,
serving as the communications chairman
of D.R.E.A.M., an organization dedicated
to providing African-American males with
the tools to fulfill their potential. “There
aren’t enough routes for minorities to take
to reverse the poor rates of high school
graduation and college enrollment,” says
Demisse. “D.R.E.A.M has identified this
and is taking a stand to fix it.”
*
“AWARDS CEREMONY” from Page i
POSSE D.C. SPRING 2012
Upon learning one of her students
had received the Posse Scholarship, Patty
Parmelee, a nominator from Bethesda
Chevy Chase High School, wrote the
Posse staff to express her excitement. “I
could not be happier to learn that Irvin
was selected to be a Lafayette Posse
Scholar,” she wrote. “This is a wonderful
match on many levels and we are sure that
Irvin will excel and that Lafayette will be
proud to have him represent their school.
He is such a capable young man with a
warm heart and uncommon humility.”
ii
POSSE D.C. SCHOLARS ARE AMONG
THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED YOUNG
LEADERS IN THE D.C. METRO AREA
Local T.V. stations NBC4 and ABC7
featured the Awards Ceremony on their
late night news broadcasts, including
interviews with Posse D.C. Director
Tamara Wilds Lawson and several new
Scholars and parents. “I am so thankful
to have this opportunity to not only
make my parents proud, but also to
excel at something I have always loved,
and that is learning,” said Benjamin
Banneker Academic High School senior
Prince George’s County Superintendent William Hite
congratulates Posse Scholars who attend PG high schools.
Mahder Etuma, who will attend Bucknell
University this fall.
The new class of Posse D.C. Scholars
is a truly impressive group of the most
accomplished young leaders in the D.C.
metro area. These incredible students
come from more than 40 Washington,
D.C. metro area high schools. Twenty-five
of these Scholars speak more than one
language and 16 learned English as their
second language. Nationally, nearly 50
percent of Posse Scholars are the first in
their family to attend college.
Preceding the Awards Ceremony,
Posse D.C. held a reception for local
alumni, board members, leadership
council members, sponsors, volunteers and
guests at Tabaq Bistro near the Lincoln
Theatre.
The reception was very well attended
and Posse D.C. was especially honored
to be joined at this event by D.C. Mayor
Vincent Gray and D.C. Council Chair
Kwame Brown. Mayor Gray addressed
the attendees and made some important
connections between his vision for
providing quality higher education
opportunities for the city’s youth and
Posse’s mission.
This year’s Awards Ceremony raised
more than $65,000 in sponsorship—the
most in the history of the event—including
a $40,000 grant from Citi Foundation
and $25,000 in funding from the Mark &
Brenda Moore and Family Foundation.
Posse D.C. also received financial support
from Sanford and Miriam Ain and Host
Hotels and Resorts. We are tremendously
grateful to our sponsors for making this
important event a huge success.
*
NBC interviews Maria Galarce Crain, UW-Madison Posse 4.
See Awards Ceremony Photo Gallery on page iv
Posse Alumni Support Scholars’ Professional Development
Posse alumni supported current D.C.
Scholars at three separate career events held
during winter break.
career
highlight
Winter Calendar Events
In late December, Posse D.C. held
an interactive event focused on interview
preparation. Three expert alumnae—Briana
Strachan of Lafayette Posse 2 (D.C.),
LaMika Robinson of Lafayette Posse 3
(D.C.) and Brandy Hays of Rice Posse 1
(New York)—worked with a group of nearly
50 Scholars to help prepare them for the
upcoming interview season. The event
focused on researching, applying and
preparing for interviews.
“This workshop opened my eyes
to how important it is to research the
company, prepare questions and engage in
a mock interview in the days leading up to
an interview,” says April Htut, Bucknell 7.
“It also sharpened my general knowledge
of professionalism in regards to appropriate
dress and conduct. I now feel ready to
prepare for and ace an interview when
given the chance.”
Twelve Posse D.C. Scholars were
invited to an exclusive event hosted by
the Capital Teaching Residency (CTR)
program, which partners with Posse to
recruit graduates for its esteemed teacher
training program. The Scholars were given
a tour of KIPP DC’s Douglass Campus,
followed by a panel discussion with three
alumni who are currently resident teachers
in the program.
“We have been impressed by the
Posse alumni enrolled as resident teachers in the Capital Teaching Residency program serve on career panel.
professionalism and work ethic of each
of the Posse alumni we have hired,” says
Sarah Strom, director of the CTR program.
“They have demonstrated commitment and
grit in their teaching roles, and have been
willing to help out with any project related
to their school, their students or to the CTR
program.”
I NOW FEEL READY TO PREPARE
FOR AND ACE AN INTERVIEW
WHEN GIVEN THE CHANCE
After the panel there was an
opportunity for several KIPP high school
juniors to learn from the Posse Scholars
about the transition to college. The
experience encouraged three of the four
senior Posse Scholars who attended to apply
for the opportunity upon graduation.
On January 6, 2012, Posse D.C. hosted
an event in its offices to highlight and
explain the field of consulting. Four Posse
alumni who currently work with Deloitte, a
Posse Career partner, planned, coordinated
and facilitated the day’s events.
Jasmine Nierenberger, Bucknell Posse
2 (D.C.) was the first Posse intern hired by
Deloitte when the partnership began and
is now a full-time federal analyst there. “I
choose to stay active with Posse because of
what Posse has given to me,” said Jasmine.
“Besides the immeasurable gift of a college
education within the classroom, it has given
me the gift of a supportive community and
expanded horizons.”
DePauw Posse 5 (New York) alumnus
Jourdan Sutton, a senior business valuation
associate in Deloitte’s Financial Advisory
Services, led an overview discussion
about Deloitte’s federal practice, while
Jeyson Florez, DePauw Posse 3 (Chicago)
alumnus, a federal strategy and operations
consultant, facilitated a group activity and
Q&A discussion. More than half of the
24 attendees are subsequently pursuing
professional opportunities with Deloitte.
*
POSSE D.C. SPRING 2012
Current Posse Scholars pose with alumni who are resident teachers in the Capital Teaching Residency program.
Bucknell Posse (D.C.) 3 alumna and Deloitte federal analyst,
Jasmine Niernberger (right), facilitates a small group
discussion.
iii
A Look Back at D.C. Award Ceremony Events
Friends and family take part in the open mic session at the
Awards Ceremony.
D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray (thrid from the left) poses with Posse D.C. Director Tamara Wilds Lawson (front row, center), and
members of the D.C. Advisory Board.
D.C. Council Chair Kwame Brown (front row, third from left) with some of Posse’s newest Scholars.
Award Ceremony sponsors Mark and Brenda Moore address
the crowd at the pre-event reception.
Posse D.C. relies on the support of individuals, corporations and foundations. Their funding makes our
program possible. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to Posse, please contact Rachel Alper at
rachela@possefoundation.org. You can also donate online at www.possefoundation.org.
d.c. advisory board
POSSE D.C. SPRING 2012
CHAIR
Frank Sesno
Bob Barrett
Donella P. Brockington
Bonnie Cohen
William E. Cook, Jr.
Joan I. Fabry
Jeyson Florez
John Gilkes
Caroline H. Little
Walter Lohmann
James Owen Mathews
Camille Riggs Mosley
Carla L. Peterson
Thomas W. Rabaut
David M. Riley
Cristina Sacco
Lydia W. Thomas, Ph.D.
Director of The George Washington University’s School of Media and
Public Affairs
Partner, PwC
Vice President of Business Development, ACS, a Xerox Company
Principal, B.R. Cohen and Associates
Partner, Arnold and Porter LLP
Architect
Federal Strategy and Operations Consultant, Deloitte Consulting LLP
Principal, Forensic & Dispute Services, Deloitte Financial Advisory
Services LLP
President and CEO, Newspaper Association of America
Partner, Kirkland and Ellis LLP
Executive Team, Healthy Companies International
Vice President of Development & Strategic Alliance, National Association of Equal Opportunity in Higher Education
Professor of English, University of Maryland, College Park
Senior Advisor, The Carlyle Group
Senior Vice President, Capital Research Company
Integration Assistant, Arnold and Porter LLP
Trustee, George Washington University, Noblis
iv
visit posse on the web at: www.possefoundation.org
posse d.c. partner
colleges & universities
Bucknell University
Grinnell College
Lafayette College
Pepperdine University
Sewanee: The University of the South
University of Wisconsin-Madison
posse d.c.
Tamara Wilds Lawson, Director
1319 F Street NW, Suite 604
Washington, DC 20004
Phone: (202) 347–7071
Fax: (202) 347–7480
tamaral@possefoundation.org
national office
14 Wall Street, Suite 8A-60
New York, NY 10005
Phone: (212) 405-1691
Fax: (212) 405-1697
info@possefoundation.org