Group of scholars smiling
(Front, left to right) Middlebury Scholars Ashley Zeledon, Dieedra Welch, Layla Robledo, Kana DeCoste. (Back, left to right) Luna McNeff Yee, Connor Taing, Idanesi Ojior, Bejamin Pena, Maximiliano Villanueva, Enedina Pineda

Posse Los Angeles Celebrates 90 New Scholars

Spring 2023 | Los Angeles

Posse Los Angeles kicked off the new year with the return to an in-person Posse Awards Ceremony. On January 5, nearly 600 individuals flocked to the Regal LA Live Cinemas to celebrate the 90 newly selected Scholars.

The newest cohorts of Scholars were awarded more than $20 million in full-tuition scholarships to Posse Los Angeles’ nine partner colleges and universities: Bucknell University, Dickinson College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Kalamazoo College, Middlebury College, Northwestern University, Pepperdine University, Tulane University, and University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Note tied to the stem of a rose.
A Hawaiian proverb shared by Posse Los Angeles Director Nikki Kealalio.

Posse Scholars share the same attributes: heart, commitment to one another, and a desire to see the world improve.

LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho

The Scholars come from over 200 schools in the Los Angeles area and were selected from nearly 2,000 total applicants. Posse National Board Member and LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho offered encouraging remarks at the event.

"Whether in Miami, Los Angeles, or anywhere else in the country, Posse Scholars share the same attributes: heart, commitment to one another, and a desire to see the world improve," said Alberto. " I can’t wait to see what this class of Scholars will achieve."

Lexi Aguayo, Pepperdine Associate Director of Admissions and Posse alumna from Pepperdine University spoke from her own experience as she welcomed the Scholars.

“I sat in the very same seat seven years ago,” said Lexi. “My advice to you is to trust the process.”

The Awards Ceremony concluded with remarks from Nikki Kealalio, Director of Posse Los Angeles.

“I am excited to welcome the newest cohort of Posse Scholars and support them throughout their college journeys," said Nikki. "More importantly, I am thrilled to take part in lifting up our next generation of leaders.”

Posse Los Angeles thanks Shawmut Design and Construction, Deloitte, and Willis Watson Tower for sponsoring the 2023 Posse Awards Ceremony.