CPS - Chicago Public Schools
02/12/2026 | Press release | Archived content
Chicago Public Schools Seniors Lead 2026 Posse Scholars List with 95 Full-tuition Scholarships
Chicago Public Schools Seniors Lead 2026 Posse Scholars List with 95 Full-tuition Scholarships
12 February 2026
CPS students are the majority of this year's prestigious cohort receiving more than $30 million in full-tuition scholarships from Posse Chicago's partner colleges and universities
CPS Office of Communications
Phone: 773-553-1620
Website: www.cps.edu
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CHICAGO - Nearly 100 graduating seniors from Chicago Public Schools (CPS) have been selected to be part of this year's group of "Posse Scholars," making up the majority of a prestigious cohort of students receiving full-tuition scholarships to attend Posse Chicago's partner colleges and universities
Each year, the Posse Foundation selects standout students who have shown strong leadership, academic promise, and a commitment to collaboration and inclusion. Once again, CPS students represent the largest share of Chicago-area recipients, with 95 of the 119 local scholars coming from the District. Hailing from neighborhoods across Chicagoland, members of the newest class are the recipients of more than $30 million in full-tuition scholarships from Posse Chicago's partner colleges and universities: Connecticut College, Cornell University, DePauw University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Middlebury College, Oberlin College, Pomona College, Trinity College, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Whitman College.
"These students reflect the very best of Chicago Public Schools and this recognition underscores the impact of investing in this city's public education and student leadership development," said Dr. Macquline King, CPS' Interim CEO/Superintendent. "Their selection as Posse Scholars speaks not only to their individual achievements, but to the power of our schools to cultivate leadership, resilience, and purpose. When we invest in our students, they rise and the future rises with them."
An awards ceremony was held earlier this year at the Chicago History Museum. Before family, friends and other members of their communities, the Class of 2026 recipients were honored with words of praise and encouragement from Posse leadership, Posse alumna, and college representatives. The new scholars will matriculate this fall, having been selected for their extraordinary academic and leadership potential from a pool of more than 2,400 nominees.
Emily Reyes, a senior at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences (CHSAS), will head to Cornell University in the fall as a Posse Scholar. When her family found out she was formally accepted, each member went out and got shirts sporting their new favorite titles, "Cornell mom, Cornell dad, and Cornell grandma," Emily said. "They were so happy."
Being selected feels as though her hard work throughout high school has paid off, culminating in a prestigious opportunity that not only provides financial resources but also a cohort of other high-achieving students to provide peer support for their postsecondary paths.
"Being selected as a Cornell Posse Scholar is an incredible honor," Emily said. "This opportunity represents not only my academic goals, but also my commitment to leadership, community, and giving back. I am grateful for the support that made this possible, and I look forward to continuing to grow and create impact through The Posse Foundation."
Founded in 1989, the Posse Foundation works to identify and support talented students from public high schools, preparing them through an intensive pre-collegiate program and sending them to partner colleges in diverse cohorts, or "posses," of students. Since its inception, the organization has helped students secure approximately $2.6 billion in full-tuition merit scholarships from colleges and universities nationwide.
Posse scholars are chosen based on their leadership potential, ability to work effectively in teams, and determination to succeed in higher education and beyond.
"Chicago Posse Scholars have earned this opportunity through hard work, curiosity, and a willingness to lead," said Deborah Bial, president and founder of The Posse Foundation. "The CPS Scholars in this year's class stand out for their confidence, integrity, and vision for the future. We know they will strengthen their campuses and leave a lasting mark on their communities."
Below is the full list of CPS scholars for 2026:
|
Name |
School |
University |
|
Yamilet Aceves |
Back of the Yards College Prep |
Middlebury College |
|
Joel Acosta |
Kennedy High School |
Dickinson College |
|
Jayla Allen |
Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy |
University of Wisconsin-Madison |
|
Alyndria Anderson |
Noble Street - Muchin |
Connecticut College |
|
Richard Arellano |
Noble Street - Rauner |
Whitman College |
|
Emery Arevalo |
Senn High School |
Dickinson College |
|
Rani Barnes |
Northside College Preparatory High School |
Oberlin College |
|
Michael Barreto |
Disney II Magnet School - Lawndale Campus |
Oberlin College |
|
Krish Bedi |
Whitney Young Magnet High School |
Pomona College |
|
Berenise Benitez |
Back of the Yards College Prep |
Middlebury College |
|
Siefora Beraki |
Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center |
DePauw University |
|
Sebastian Bernal |
Lane Technical High School |
Middlebury College |
|
Heaven Buckner |
Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy |
Trinity College |
|
Ricardo Castañon |
Hubbard High School |
Trinity College |
|
Amira Cepeda |
John Hancock College Preparatory High School |
University of Wisconsin-Madison |
|
Abigail Chan |
Payton College Preparatory High School |
Oberlin College |
|
La'Niya Cobbins |
Curie Metropolitan High School |
Hobart & William Smith Colleges |
|
Melany Cruz-Macias |
Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy |
Pomona College |
|
Elizabeth Delgado |
Noble Academy |
Connecticut College |
|
Mariama Diallo |
Whitney Young Magnet High School |
Pomona College |
|
Kristin Dowell |
Kenwood Academy High School |
Middlebury College |
|
Kenya Draine |
Noble--Hansberry College Prep |
Oberlin College |
|
Mya Dunham |
Lindblom Math and Science Academy High School |
Cornell University |
|
Anjilo Elston |
Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy |
Hobart & William Smith Colleges |
|
Javion Ford |
Perspectives - Leadership Academy Campus |
Dickinson College |
|
Reagan Frye |
Whitney Young Magnet High School |
Oberlin College |
|
Jemiah Frye |
Catalyst - Maria |
Whitman College |
|
Madelyn Gale-Ammari |
Amundsen High School |
Whitman College |
|
Alier Garang |
Art In Motion |
Dickinson College |
|
Carlos Garcia |
Prosser Career Academy |
Middlebury College |
|
Nathaly Garcia |
Hubbard High School |
Whitman College |
|
Gabriela Gomez |
Foreman High School |
Dickinson College |
|
Miles Gutierrez |
George Westinghouse College Prep High School |
Cornell University |
|
Cree Hampton |
The Ogden International School of Chicago High School |
Whitman College |
|
Cristina Hernandez |
Roosevelt High School |
Pomona College |
|
Jencarlos Hernandez |
Whitney Young Magnet High School |
Whitman College |
|
Isabella Herrera |
Intrinsic Schools - Downtown Campus |
Whitman College |
|
Eric Hicks |
Noble--Hansberry College Prep |
Dickinson College |
|
Kimaya Ivy |
Noble Academy |
Pomona College |
|
Kaleb Jackson |
Lindblom Math and Science Academy High School |
Trinity College |
|
Karter James |
Lane Technical High School |
Hobart & William Smith Colleges |
|
Payton Johnson |
Lane Technical High School |
Hobart & William Smith Colleges |
|
Mairead Keating |
Disney II Magnet School - Lawndale Campus |
Dickinson College |
|
Sekou Kenyatta |
Dyett High School |
Hobart & William Smith Colleges |
|
Shimra Khan |
Lane Technical High School |
University of Wisconsin-Madison |
|
Zion Lasana |
Lane Technical High School |
Middlebury College |
|
Josiah Lebron |
Intrinsic Schools - Downtown Campus |
Trinity College |
|
Iriz Lugo |
Back of the Yards College Prep |
Whitman College |
|
Fatima Luna-Zaldivar |
Solorio Academy |
DePauw University |
|
Davaris Magee |
Perspectives - Leadership Academy Campus |
DePauw University |
|
Alexander Marchan |
Morgan Park High School |
University of Wisconsin-Madison |
|
Emery Matthews |
Lincoln Park High School |
Hobart & William Smith Colleges |
|
Jada McCline |
Senn High School |
Oberlin College |
|
Jasmine McGhee |
Whitney Young Magnet High School |
Cornell University |
|
Connor McLean |
Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences (CHAS) |
Connecticut College |
|
Charles Metzgar-Rugg |
Lane Technical High School |
Cornell University |
|
Dennise Millan |
Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy |
Dickinson College |
|
Oprah Momoh |
Chicago Math and Science Academy High School |
Trinity College |
|
Solah Montenegro |
Lane Technical High School |
Middlebury College |
|
William Morales |
Mather High School |
Whitman College |
|
Luis Morales Lopez |
Lane Technical High School |
Dickinson College |
|
Izabel Newton |
Taft High School |
Hobart & William Smith Colleges |
|
Lily Ngo |
Lane Technical High School |
Connecticut College |
|
Trang Nguyen |
Lane Technical High School |
Trinity College |
|
Steven Nguyen |
Northside College Preparatory High School |
University of Wisconsin-Madison |
|
Sela Nucum |
Northside College Preparatory High School |
Oberlin College |
|
Emily Ocampo |
Taft High School |
Whitman College |
|
Ivan Ochoa |
Back of the Yards College Prep |
DePauw University |
|
Roberto Ovalle-Deleon |
Noble Street - Golder |
Connecticut College |
|
Jeff Pacheco-Arizaga |
Lane Technical High School |
University of Wisconsin-Madison |
|
Don Carmelo Passantino |
George Westinghouse College Prep High School |
Dickinson College |
|
Nico Rademacher-Wedd |
Kenwood Academy High School |
Whitman College |
|
Mariana Ramirez |
Amundsen High School |
University of Wisconsin-Madison |
|
Giovanni Ramos |
DeVry Advantage Academy |
Hobart & William Smith Colleges |
|
William Read |
Taft High School |
Trinity College |
|
Emily Reyes |
Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences (CHAS) |
Cornell University |
|
Delayna Romero |
Chicago High School for the Arts |
DePauw University |
|
Ruiz Sabale |
Taft High School |
Trinity College |
|
Laycha Sarante |
Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences (CHAS) |
DePauw University |
|
Mateo Schroeder |
Lane Technical High School |
Pomona College |
|
James Scott |
Lane Technical High School |
Pomona College |
|
Kendrick Sellers |
Lindblom Math and Science Academy High School |
Cornell University |
|
Andrew Senorski |
Lane Technical High School |
Hobart & William Smith Colleges |
|
Isaac Simon |
Amundsen High School |
DePauw University |
|
Roberto Soldedad-Perez |
Noble Street - Pritzker |
Middlebury College |
|
Sara Solis |
Taft High School |
Dickinson College |
|
Nailah Starnes |
Noble Street - UIC College Prep |
Trinity College |
|
Deena Sun |
Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center |
DePauw University |
|
Angela Thomas |
Roosevelt High School |
Connecticut College |
|
Destiny Ugalde |
Mather High School |
DePauw University |
|
Jaylyn Villagrana |
Noble Street - Pritzker |
Pomona College |
|
Anastasiia Vitvitska |
Steinmetz College Prep |
Hobart & William Smith Colleges |
|
John Wilson-Sowah |
King Jr. College Preparatory High School |
Connecticut College |
|
Tiffanee Wong |
Payton College Preparatory High School |
Cornell University |
|
Fernando Yanez |
George Washington High School |
DePauw University |
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CPS - Chicago Public Schools published this content on February 12, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on February 18, 2026 at 18:00 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]