Posse Atlanta Scholars Win Prestigious Honors
Posse Atlanta Scholars and alumni are continually breaking new ground and blazing trails for those who follow in their footsteps. This spring, Marcel Baugh, Karimah Shabazz and Tori Gilbeau are the first from Posse Atlanta to earn a Posse Graduate School Fellowship, a Truman Scholarship, and the honor of being Boston University’s student commencement speaker, respectively.
“Our Scholars have achieved extraordinary things,” says Posse Atlanta Director Zenith Houston. “I am especially proud of Karimah, Tori, and Marcel; we could not ask for better role models. Posse Atlanta Scholars are continuing to change the face of leadership at our partner schools.”
Marcel Baugh, a graduate of The College of Wooster, was admitted to the public policy master's program at the University of Washington Evans School of Public Affairs. Marcel received a highly competitive full-tuition scholarship to Evans reserved for Posse alumni. He will matriculate in the fall.
Karimah Shabazz, a junior at Bard College, won the Truman Scholarship in recognition of her outstanding leadership and commitment to public service. She co-founded the mentoring, tutoring and scholarship program Building Up Hudson, worked as a site director for the nonprofit SAT preparation provider Let’s Get Ready, interned with the nonprofit educational organization Global Kids, and was a peer counselor and mentor in the Bard Educational Opportunity Programs Office. As a Truman Scholar, she will receive scholarships for graduate or professional school, leadership development training, mentoring, and employment opportunities with the federal government or nationally focused nonprofit organizations.
Tori Gilbeau, a 2014 graduate of Boston University, was selected to be the student commencement speaker through a competitive process. A public relations major in the School of Communications, Tori was well prepared to address the crowd.
“I hope you recognized what a gift you have been to others through your time here,” said Tori during her commencement address. “Remember what makes you special and cling tight to your unique story because that is what is going to make this class of 2014 great.”
