Success Story

These profiles are typical of extraordinary urban youth who become Scholars:Aliyah A. (Oberlin College) Growing up in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, Aliyah witnessed many acts of violence, which is the motivation behind her dual major in law and society and sociology and her longer-term goal to earn a law degree and a doctorate in sociology and criminology. On campus, Aliyah was elected president of her class, serves as co-chair of a discussion group for Black women, and she is a member of the Oberlin Law Scholars Program. She secured summer internships with U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and with the Exoneration Project at the University of Chicago's Law School. She also proposed a research project for which she was awarded a Mellon Mays Fellowship. Aliyah states, "Posse gave me the understanding of my true capabilities and what I could accomplish in my life. And that empowered me to strive for these amazing opportunities."Ted O. (University of Virginia) Ted grew up in Houston and, after taking part in a medical mission to Nigeria, decided to become a medical doctor. He was accepted into the competitive FlexMed program of The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai which allows him to pursue his academic interests without the constraints of a typical premed track. Ted is committed to community service work during the academic year, volunteering at a nearby hospital and mentoring young people from backgrounds underrepresented in the medical field. As he says, "Posse has opened a lot of doors and given me opportunities to pursue my passions. I've been lucky to have mentors help me along the way, and I'd like to do the same for someone else."