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Committed both to broadening the student population and to creating global leaders for the future, in 1989 Vanderbilt University created the Posse Program to bring students from New York City public schools to the campus. The Posse Foundation, which developed out of this pilot program, works with high school guidance counselors to identify students who might not consider applying to a school far from home. The program has benefitted high schools with college-prep programs, college-bound students, the colleges and universities in which they enroll, and the businesses who hire these young leaders with so much potential.
RAVI SINGH, POSSE 18. VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY CLASS OF 2011
“Pass the grits and the biscuits!” I shouted across the long wooden table. It was the start of my freshman year at Vanderbilt, and my Posse was passing around plates of eggs, grits, collard greens, and fried chicken. Although we had met once a week at the Posse office in Wall Street—where we had team-building exercises and other activities—it was first time all 11 of us had gotten together in Nashville.
Back when we were seniors in high school, we had been nominated for the Posse Scholarship, a full-tuition ride given to students who display extraordinary leadership and academic potential. In the spring semester of my junior year in high school, my guidance counselor, Ms. Bryn Will, called me into her office. “I want to nominate you for this great scholarship—look at some of their partner schools, and let me know if you'd be interested,” she said.
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