Scholars, Mentors Strengthen Bonds at Summer Retreats

In August, four Posses from Miami traveled to Boca Raton, Florida, to participate in a rite of passage for Scholars—the summer retreat. After eight months of Pre-Collegiate Training, the summer retreat is the final bonding opportunity for Posses before they arrive on their respective college campuses.

“This retreat showed our Posse the ways we can communicate,” said Hamilton College Posse Scholar Christopher Wallace. “It proved that it is possible for us to overcome obstacles together.”

For three days, Posses for Hamilton College, Franklin & Marshall College, Mount Holyoke College and Syracuse University participated in teambuilding activities, leadership workshops and a high ropes course. Mentors from each college or university also attended. These faculty members will meet regularly on campus with Scholars, individually and as Posses.

"The retreat was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life," said Posse mentor Lynn Dew, a graduate student and former player coordinator for the Syracuse women's basketball team. "I have never seen people come together the way this Posse does."

As Scholars begin their first year of college, Posse Miami is confident that they will take their campuses by storm, prepared to work as a team.