Campus Ceremony Welcomes Oberlin’s First-Year Scholars

Oberlin College’s fifteenth Posse from Chicago marked their arrival on campus last year with a ceremonial start to their college journey. The visualization ceremony—which takes place at the College’s Memorial Arch in Tappan Square, where commencement is held—has become a treasured tradition for incoming Scholars.

The ceremony has become a storied, recurring event in the College’s history as a Posse partner and is led by the new Posse’s mentor and Oberlin’s president. To honor the start of this new cohort’s journey, Posse mentor Anna Brandt guided Scholars through an exercise of reflection.

“I am the first person in my family to go to college. Having this ceremony gave me a sense of belonging and confidence.”

Scholars were asked to remember their experience being selected for Posse, participation in activities during Pre-Collegiate Training, and ultimate arrival on campus.

“Each day I wake up and think that I am living a dream,” says Posse Scholar Bridget Adu-Dapaah, an economics major and member of the first-year cohort. “I never would’ve thought that I would be able to attend college due to personal and financial reasons. The ceremony made everything real.”

“I am the first person in my family to go to college,” Scholar Dulce Rincon says. “I want to a be a role model for my younger sister. Having this ceremony gave me a sense of belonging and confidence, which I needed for the first month of classes.”

During the event, Scholars were encouraged to collectively envision their journey as a Posse at Oberlin for the next four years. They also reflected on what it would mean for each of them individually to reach such a milestone.

“Being able to go through the motions of a physical graduation really helped shape a clear vision for me as I undergo the next few years here at Oberlin,” says Scholar Ezra Pruitt, who plans to major in musical and environmental studies.

The ceremony concluded with Oberlin President Carmen Twillie Ambar, who offered words of wisdom and encouragement. Each Scholar received their graduation cap and a scroll inscribed with the statement:

“All things are possible as long as I have tenacity, vision, and—of course—my Posse.”

“We have no doubt that should you maintain focus and have the courage to follow your dreams, you will graduate in Tappan Square in the spring of 2025 with your entire Posse at your side.”

“I keep my cap by my desk as a reminder that I will be wearing it in a few years at Tappan Square,” Dulce says. “Although we won’t be graduating until May 2025, it was nice to have a glimpse into our futures, and I am excited to see us grow as Posse.”

“All things are possible as long as I have tenacity, vision, and—of course—my Posse,” Ezra added.