D.C. Scholars Attend White House Summit

Two Posse D.C. Scholars in Pre-Collegiate Training were invited to attend First Lady Michele Obama’s “Beating the Odds” Summit at the White House in July. University of Wisconsin-Madison Scholar Fernando Umanzor and Sewanee: The University of the South Scholar Chandler Davenport, who both matriculated this fall, were honored by the opportunity to participate.

\"Being welcomed into the White House by the First Lady was a surreal experience,\" says Fernando. \"I believe this annual summit gives underrepresented students the validation they need to step out of their comfort zones and enter higher education in order to make their voices heard, accomplish their dreams, and make their families proud.\"

Part of the First Lady’s Reach Higher initiative, the summit enabled the Scholars to participate in dynamic discussions with more than 130 college-bound students from all over the country. With various panels, guest speakers and interactive experiences, the summit celebrated attendees’ accomplishments and provided students with strategies and tools to help them succeed on campus and in the workforce.

“It was such a pleasure to see two of our amazing Scholars at the White House fully engaged in such a special experience,” says Posse D.C. Director Tamara Wilds Lawson. “We are incredibly grateful for the First Lady and President Obama’s ongoing support of the Posse program and the dynamic young people we serve around the country.”