Posse Program

The Posse Foundation's mission is to identify and train high school students in large urban communities with extraordinary academic leadership potential who may be overlooked by the traditional college selection process. Through carefully selected partnerships, the Posse Foundation facilitates the entrance of these students to universities like UW-Madison. Posse students apply and are admitted to universities in groups of 10, otherwise known as a "posse." Posse students are provided with a four-year scholarship and access to the resources and support needed to graduate. In the fall of 2002, a total of 18 students from Chicago were admitted to the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a result of the Posse program.

In 2003, the Posse Foundation expanded their operations into the Los Angeles area and UW-Madison's partnership was extended as well. WAA and our chapters in Chicago and Los Angeles met with Posse officials to discuss ways to raise the level of awareness and support of the program among our alumni and to develop an allegiance with the students headed to Madison. As a result of those meetings, several local area alumni participated in the selection process that eventually sent another cohort of 12 students from Chicago and 11 from L.A. to UW-Madison.

Local alumni representatives attended the student induction ceremonies in both cities and presented gifts to the admitted students. This past April, WAA hosted a dinner for Chicago area Posse students and their families to welcome them into the Wisconsin family and connect them to their local club. This dinner also recognized alumni volunteers and donors who provided support and participated in the selection process. Likewise, Los Angeles students and their parents were invited to their own dinner and the local Founders' Day event at the beginning of June 2003.

Additionally, WAA supported the Posse students here on campus, by sponsoring a reception with our Wisconsin Alumni Student Board (WASB) members and a luncheon with our national board of directors.