Three Lynn students part of Posse

LYNN – Three local high school seniors will attend college on a full scholarship this fall, thanks to four years of hard work and funding from the Posse Scholarship Foundation.Lynn English High School senior Sarah Jenness and Lynn Classical High School seniors Wiselene Dorceus and Jomaria Salas were informed late last year that they would be receiving the four-year scholarship award, and have already begun working with the foundation to prepare for their education.Built on the idea that students will have a better chance of succeeding in college if they go through the process with a “posse,” the foundation has awarded over 2,200 students with full tuition to participating schools since 1989.Each year, the organization chooses 60 students from about 1,200 applicants across the state, who will be attending one of six colleges associated with the foundation. Ten students attending each school are then placed with “posse” members, and attend leadership courses each week leading up to the first day of college.The application process is not an easy one, as students must first be recommended by a school or organization and then undergo three face to face interviews with foundation members. If an applicant is chosen, they are required to accept the scholarship and attend the school that they chose.Jenness, who was nominated by her guidance councilor at English, Matthew Wilkins, will be attending Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, an all women’s liberal arts college where she will study creative writing.”Bryn Mawr was my number one choice,” she said. “When I heard that they were choosing from 1,200 kids I thought ‘Are you kidding me?’ but with Bryn Mawr being an all girls school, I was like ‘Well that eliminates the boys right there.'”A class officer and quiz team member who is also involved in the drama program at English, Jenness says her dream is to become a novelist, but she anticipates changing her mind once she gets on campus.She credits Lynn English with helping her to succeed academically, and she is looking forward to closing out her senior year without the weight of a college decision on her shoulders.”Lynn English has helped me a lot,” she said. “Forty years from now I am going to remember the people and the teachers who helped me here, not just what I studied.”Joining Jenness at Bryn Mawr as a psychology major will be Salas, who along with Dorceus, was nominated for the scholarship by Girls Incorporated.Already volunteering as a teen health ambassador at Girls Inc., Salas says she hopes to work with abused children after college.Breaking the Bryn Mawr trend will be Dorceus, who plans on studying communications and marketing at Denison University in Ohio thanks to the Posse Foundation.One constant with all three of the scholars is a choice to attend school outside of New England, where they have lived for the majority of their lives.”I always said that I wanted to go out and see the world, and I didn’t want to stay in Massachusetts,” said Salas. “But I do admit I am getting a little bit nervous now about leaving my family. Mom isn’t going to be around anymore.”Both Salas, who was born in the Dominican Republic, and Dorceus, who is from Haiti, say their families played a huge role in their success in school, and are hoping to make them proud at the next level.”We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for everyone who has helped us, we owe a lot to Girls Inc.,” said Salas. “I am lucky to have parents that when everyone else was out at a party or going to the movies, I was home doing my homework.””I want to say thanks to my family, especially my mom who has definitely been my inspiration,” added Dorceus. “This is their dream, this is why they came to this country. Hopefully she is proud and I did her justice.”All three scholars will attend leadership training every week for the next eight months before departing for school in late August. Once at school, the posse will stay in tact and receive support once they are in school.