Made possible by Posse
Foundation-Trinity partnership offers myriad opportunities for teams of Scholars
By Ian Rothenberg
Sebastian Ebarb ’06, a trailblazing member of Trinity’s first class of Posse Scholars, still recalls the circumstances that led to his matriculation at the College in 2002, nearly 25 years ago. Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, Ebarb first became intrigued by the Posse Foundation when he accompanied his high school girlfriend to an interview at the foundation’s office on Wall Street. Though his girlfriend was not selected for the competitive scholarship, Ebarb remembers sitting in the office’s waiting room and thinking to himself, “How do I get in?”
When it was time for him to begin his own college search, he was nominated for the Posse interview process by a high school counselor and successfully navigated the intensive three-round gauntlet. In the late fall of his senior year of high school, Ebarb learned that he would be a member of the first Posse attending Trinity.
The Posse program identifies and trains teams, or Posses, of young people with diverse backgrounds and extraordinary leadership and academic potential who might be overlooked by the traditional admissions criteria at highly selective colleges or who otherwise might not apply. The teams help to build, as the Posse website says, more interactive campus environments. In turn, the program—featuring mentors and regular meetings and activities—works to ensure that the students graduate. The program guarantees a full-tuition scholarship to attend Trinity or one of Posse’s other 62 partner institutions, including Carleton College, the University of Virginia, and Pomona College.
The results, according to Trinity College President Dan Lugo, are clear. “The Posse Foundation under Deborah’s Bial leadership has made an undeniable impact on higher education and on the Trinity College campus,” says Lugo. “At Trinity, we are focused on enrolling highly talented students from all backgrounds, and our 25-year partnership with the Posse Foundation has helped the College to enroll nearly 350 high-achieving students from New York and Chicago.”
Sheva Ramirez Darcy ’10, also a Posse Scholar from New York, was drawn to Trinity by the intimate liberal arts environment and the proximity to her hometown. “Posse was a really strong foundation to begin the college experience,” she says. “Even though we were 10 very different people, we were able to branch out, build our own brands, but still keep that core connection.”
Initially intending to major in psychology, Darcy became fascinated with the literary and historical elements of American studies. She recalls being inspired by Davarian L. Baldwin, Paul E. Raether Distinguished Professor of American Studies. “He’s just a brilliant person who brought so much confidence and appreciation of American studies every day,” she says.
Darcy works as an operations manager at a major insurance company in New York but still feels closely connected to the College. “Trinity is such a magical place. I love that I still keep my roots by volunteering on Giving Day,” she says. “I cannot wait for the next Reunion just to go there and have my kids run around on the lawn of the Long Walk.”
Anthony T. Berry, Trinity’s director of admissions and Posse liaison, credits two longtime administrators—former Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Larry Dow and former Dean of Multicultural Affairs Karla Spurlock-Evans—with kick-starting the partnership between Posse and the College. While Trinity Posses originally were composed only of students from New York, the first Posse cohort from Chicago arrived on campus in fall 2009. About a decade later, with Trinity’s solid name recognition and strong alumni base in New York City, the College sharpened its focus on Chicago, from which all of Trinity’s current Posse Scholars have been selected. “In terms of geography, we thought it would be great to attract more students from the Midwest,” says Berry.
“In admissions, part of our strategic plan is focused on recruiting a community of students who have diverse perspectives. In many respects, Posse reflects this mission,” adds Berry. “Not only do we have this really lively, engaged cohort of students from Chicago that we might not have attracted without Posse, but the groups themselves are also quite diverse in terms of their academic interests and what they choose to pursue in their extracurricular activities.”
For Zyon Mitchell ’28, a Posse Scholar from Chicago majoring in engineering with a concentration in electrical and computer engineering, Trinity was an easy decision. “I was a little scared of being so far away from home, but Trinity was my number one choice. Being at a small liberal arts school has helped me feel more connected to the community here,” she says. “With my engineering major, I knew that I wanted a smaller classroom, more access to professors, and more hands-on training.”
In a testament to Posse’s focus on identifying and cultivating leaders, Mitchell serves as a vice president of Imani: Trinity College Black Student Union and as secretary of the College’s Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) chapter. She also works on campus as an RA and as a Posse intern with the Admissions Office.
Trinity’s growing alumni base of Posse Scholars has come full circle to help recruit new students to campus. Posse Scholar Anthony Lazaro ’27 first learned about Trinity and the Posse Foundation from one of his high school teachers in Chicago, Veronica Armendariz ’16. Lazaro, an educational studies major who is minoring in legal studies, serves as a Posse mentor for the class years below him in addition to his positions as a manager of the women’s volleyball team and as a captain of the men’s club volleyball team.
“Mentors really make a difference for Posse,” says Lazaro. “Having those connections on campus really makes it easier to adjust and feel at home, rather than feel away from home.”
Berry notes, “We’ve had a number of Posse Scholars who’ve been president of the Student Government Association and started organizations or clubs. They also tend to be engaged and active in the city of Hartford.
“With Posse Scholars, we have this group that’s been charged with seeking leadership opportunities,” he adds. “More often than not, they are the individuals who will do the outreach to other students who are also looking for community. It is incredibly important to have individuals who are willing and interested in making these connections across campus.”
For Ebarb, the opportunities he had and the connections he made in the College’s liberal arts environment were key to finding his path. After majoring in political science and using his Photoshop skills to make advertisements in The Trinity Tripod, Ebarb received a fifth-year art fellowship in printmaking at Trinity and then moved back to New York, where he earned an M.F.A. in design from the School of Visual Arts. After seven years as design director for the City of Boston, he now works as an associate professor of design at Northeastern University, is the co-founder of the design studio Nahi, and has signed a deal to publish two forthcoming children’s books.
“One of the things I absolutely loved about Trinity was getting a true liberal arts education and feeling like I could try so many different things,” Ebarb says. “It wouldn’t have been possible without Posse. Not every person has that opportunity, so I’m incredibly thankful.”
Header image: Ryan Johnson ’27, Fiona Cunningham ’28, and Jessica Rodriguez ’27 at the 2025 PossePlus Retreat (Photo by Nick Caito)
Posse facts
According to the Posse Foundation’s website, the nonprofit organization “was founded in 1989 because of one student who said: ‘I never would’ve dropped out of college if I’d had my [P]osse with me.’ ”
Only 5% of students nominated each year to be a Posse Scholar are selected.
Trinity College awarded Posse’s founder, Deborah Bial, an honorary doctor of humane letters degree at Commencement in 2009 in recognition of her “innovation” and “unflagging devotion to the idea that talented young people from diverse backgrounds can succeed at selective colleges and universities if given an opportunity to do so.”
In their own words
Those involved in Posse at Trinity share their thoughts
Xavier Mercado ’24Being a Posse Scholar truly showed me the meaning of community. Coming to Hartford all the way from Chicago brought me a lot of fears and worries for what the journey at Trinity would be like, but compassion from my fellow Scholars guided me to have some of the best years of my life. From all the retreats and gatherings, I’m truly indebted to Posse for such wonderful memories that allowed me to feel even more accepted into the Trinity community. My gratitude goes to Anthony Berry, Professor Benjamin Carbonetti, my very own Posse, and all the other scholars that I had the honor and privilege to engage with. Posse Love! |
Jeffrey Sagun ’21Growing up in Chicago, I did not think college out of state was something meant for a kid like me. Posse changed that. Before I ever set foot on campus, Pre-Collegiate Training gave my cohort a foundation. We arrived at Trinity not as strangers trying to find each other but as a team that already knew how to show up for one another. That mattered more than I can fully explain. Once at Trinity, we met weekly with our Posse mentor, Dr. Nancy Wyshinski. I remember telling Nancy in her office my freshman year that I wanted to make a difference in the world. She leaned forward and said: “Start small, then keep going.” That was all I needed. I stopped waiting for the right moment and started building toward it. Dr. Wyshinski had a way of sitting with you in your uncertainty without letting you stay there too long. Since graduating from Trinity, I completed a three-year NIH research fellowship studying rare skin diseases, followed by a two-year research fellowship at Stanford University School of Medicine. And this July, I will begin medical school. I also give back as a Posse volunteer because this was never just a scholarship to me. Earlier this year, I was selected for the inaugural cohort of PosseNext, Posse’s elite career accelerator for alumni, which placed me among 20 high-achieving fellows for executive coaching and leadership development. Through PosseNext, I have been mentored by Steven D. Leach, interim dean of the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and sat in rooms with the CFO of Bank of America, the CFO of Warner Bros. Discovery, the CEO of Monumental Sports, and the president of the American Chemical Society. Once you are Posse, the community does not shrink, it multiplies. Posse bet on me before I could bet on myself. I carry that forward every single day. |
Ahn Tran ’29As a Posse Scholar at Trinity College, I’ve had the privilege of having a family away from home. Choosing a college that was so far away from my family and friends felt so overwhelming, but my Posse has helped make my transition much easier. As a Posse Scholar, we are there to support one another, celebrate our successes, and encourage one another. Being a Posse Scholar has helped me gain confidence, step out of my comfort zone, and make the most out of my time at Trinity. |
Stefanie Chambers, Posse MentorServing as a Posse mentor for two cohorts, one from Chicago and one from New York, has been one of the true highlights of my 25 years at Trinity. The relationship you develop with Posse Scholars goes beyond traditional faculty mentoring; it becomes something more like family, as you walk alongside students through four years of growth, challenge, and transformation. I have been so fortunate to celebrate my Scholars long after graduation, as they earn advanced degrees, build remarkable careers, start families, and become the kind of leaders and people that make you proud to have played even a small role in their journey. |
Tremayne Russell ’28Being a Posse Scholar has been one of the most meaningful parts of my college experience so far. What has stood out most is the community. From the moment I arrived on campus, I was surrounded by people who pushed me to grow, supported me through challenges, and celebrated my successes as if they were their own. Posse has also exposed me to opportunities and experiences that have broadened the way I think about my future. Whether through leadership development, mentorship, or simply being part of a group of ambitious students who hold each other accountable, the program has challenged me to aim higher than I thought possible. More than anything, Posse has shown me the value of having people in your corner. Knowing there is a community invested in your success makes a difference, and it is something I will carry with me long after my time at Trinity. |
Chris Swart, Posse MentorOne of the most valuable experiences I have had during my 20-plus years at Trinity was serving as a mentor for the Posse program. My cohort, Chicago Posse 13, arrived in 2021 and graduated in 2025. These were excellent students with fun personalities, strong work ethics, and great ideas. I learned so much from them about the student experience, and I am so glad to be involved with the program; it has fundamentally changed how I work with students and has motivated me to grow in ways I was unaware was possible previously. The faculty and staff on the Trinity Posse team have become some of my closest, most trusted, and most valued colleagues on campus. We really approach student mentoring with compassion and personal dedication. |
Seth Markle, Posse MentorI am incredibly thankful for my time as a Posse mentor and the opportunity to engage in a hyper-intensive mentorship program. Demanding, but in a positive way, I gained invaluable insights into the student college experience, especially for first-generation and minority students. It was an experience I will never forget and has significantly informed how I approach teaching and advising students here at Trinity, from being more mindful of the complexities of student lives outside the classroom to embracing the importance of consistent personal and academic goal setting. |
Jess Cruz ’26As a Posse Scholar at Trinity, the support I received from my Posse mentor, Erica Crowley, my Posse (TP 14), and the Trinity Posse community helped me find my footing in the new environment. Every Posse scholar has their own story, but together we have an understanding of this change from Chicago to Trinity, which is quite different from the general student body. In this way, I had people to look up to, people to lean on, and people to give back the support to. If it weren’t for the Posse community, I feel as though I wouldn’t have succeeded in the way that I did. |
Tanetta Andersson, Posse Mentor“[As a Posse mentor] I have led weekly curriculum-based group meetings, biweekly individual meetings, monthly calls with the Posse Chicago trainer, and monthly group meetings with Trinity Posse liaison Anthony Berry. Recognition of Anthony Berry’s outstanding leadership in this role is demonstrated in his recent [Trinity] 2025 Trustee Award for Staff Excellence. I am most proud of my TP 10 mentees for successfully navigating the COVID-19 pandemic online learning since March of their sophomore year! This group lobbied our study-away office to expand opportunities to HBCUs and HSIs. Upon their graduation, their leadership roles included vice president of the Multicultural Affairs Council, president of the Muslim Students Association, president and co-founder of Trinity’s Athletes of Color Coalition, president of Imani: Trinity College Black Student Union, and vice president of La Voz Latina, among others. They include a Fulbright recipient. They are artists, actors, public policy graduate students, higher education administrators, community advocates, business innovators, multilingual communicators and educators, architects, and computer science engineers. Ha, life comes full circle when you see your Posse mentee in a TV commercial on CNN! But what I remember most is getting them through the pandemic—silly Zoom chats, hikes, or going to fish over spring break on the Wilmington, North Carolina, pier with the same mentee in the TV commercial. We didn’t catch a thing! The point was time together—putting seashells from the beach in our coat pockets, trinkets of our fun afternoon—most of all, keeping the Posse connection! These are meaningful and lasting relationships for both faculty mentor and mentee. Indeed, I just wrote recommendation letters for an NYC Trinity Posse student who was my first-year seminar course mentor in 2016, over 10 years ago!” |
Juan Hernandez ’13, M’15As a member of the very first Posse from Chicago, I remember arriving to campus feeling prepared to be a contributing member of the Trinity community. Posse helped prepare me for that. Trinity then picked up the baton and provided me with the opportunities to step up as a leader on campus. |
Gigi Winston ’29As I arrived at Trinity last year, I was upset and scared. I didn’t want to be so far from home and at a small school. But in the first few weeks, I knew I was going to be OK because I had my Posse standing behind me. It is hard to take on college by yourself, but the great thing about Posse is that they make sure you know you have nine other students there for you, as well as the whole Posse network. I was never alone at Trinity or in Chicago because once I was selected for Posse, I knew that a village had my back and believed that I could succeed. Coming into school as a first-year and already having a community at college was so amazing. I had a group of peers who knew that exact experience I was having and could relate to the Chicago homesickness and were there to listen. The other amazing thing about Posse is that it is a group of leaders, so as we all got our footing at school, I got to see each of them grow and incorporate themselves into other communities on campus. I got to see my classmates start programming events and got to support them. It’s an amazing community, and I am so grateful to be part of it. |
Aidalí Aponte-Avilés, Posse MentorMy first introduction to the Posse Foundation came through a scholar who, after one of my classes, stayed behind to ask, “Would you be my guest at a PossePlus Retreat?” When a student extends an invitation like that, you listen. Accepting that invitation was one of the best decisions I have ever made. After participating in a couple of retreats, I received an even greater invitation in May 2019 from then-Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success Angel Pérez: “A scholar has identified you as a strong candidate to be a Posse mentor. What do you think?” I soon met 10 brilliant scholars from Chicago who, over the next four years, became my family. Through them, I gained a deeper understanding of the student experience, learned how to better support students, and even discovered how to emotionally navigate/survive a pandemic. It was not always easy; being a Posse mentor is a serious commitment. I watched my Scholars struggle and thrive, share joys and tears, challenge assumptions, and create new paradigms. They changed Trinity—and me—for the better. In fact, if you walk around campus and notice new colors on the walls, new initiatives, or even changes in policy, there is a good chance that one of my Scholars helped make them happen. To this day, my Posse 11 Scholars still reach out, and I have had the privilege of celebrating many of life’s milestones alongside them. In March 2025, Director of Admissions Anthony Berry approached me with another invitation: “Would you do it again?” I am proud to say that I am now a mentor for a second time, working with the exceptionally talented Posse 17. I look forward to continuing to learn with and from them. What began with a simple invitation—and a great deal of “Posse love”—led me to become deeply engaged with the Trinity community and strengthened my pride in being part of Trinity College. |
Zee Santiago ’09, M’12
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Yasmin Sinclair ’11Coming to Trinity with my Posse was a beautiful foundation for what amounted to four enjoyable, challenging, and ultimately transformative years. Knowing I had people in my corner, not only my Posse brothers and sisters but also faculty that believed in the ethos of the Posse organization, allowed me to flourish as an individual student and member of the Trinity community. I can always look fondly on my time at Trinity because of my Posse and all those Posse Plus (our friends and other students who weren’t Posse but with whom we were close). |
Caleb Prescott ’22As a Posse Scholar, I have so much to say about what this experience has meant to me. Posse gave me the opportunity to become part of a community of 10 students who came from different backgrounds but shared a common goal of changing the trajectory of our lives and, in many cases, the lives of our families. I remember applying to colleges and how daunting the process felt. After making it to the final round of the Posse selection process, I had a childlike faith that this was where I belonged and that everything would work out. Looking back, I thank God that it did. Posse became a doorway to opportunities I never could have imagined. During my time at Trinity, I was surrounded by incredible professors, staff, mentors, and peers who challenged and supported me. One of the most meaningful experiences was helping support Trinity’s role, in partnership with The Human Gathering, in bringing together the families of George Floyd and Rodney King. That experience deepened my passion for advocacy, public service, and legislation. It allowed me to see firsthand how government action can impact individuals, families, and entire generations. Through experiences like these, and through the guidance of mentors such as Debra Yang, whom I met during my time at Trinity, I realized that law school was the path I wanted to pursue. With the support of leaders such as Dean Selders, Trevor Beauford, and Dr. Anita Davis, my transition from Trinity to law school was seamless. Today, I am preparing to begin my final year of law school after gaining experience in the government sector, including working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office on federal major crimes matters. These early opportunities have shown me where litigation and legal representation truly matter and have reinforced my commitment to serving others through the law. I am incredibly grateful for my time at Trinity, but I can say with complete confidence that I would not be where I am today without the support of my Posse community, both in New York and Chicago, and without the Posse Foundation itself. Posse opened doors to possibilities I never imagined for myself and gave me a network of people who continue to inspire, support, and challenge me to grow. |
Ben Carbonetti, Posse MentorI began as a Posse mentor in the fall of 2020, at the height of the COVID pandemic and uncertainty around how we were going to proceed both as professors and students. I had so much trepidation about my ability to help and guide such a diverse and eclectic group of students. Almost immediately we bonded, over the shared challenge of the time but also as humans, and it became one of the most moving experiences during my more than 15 years in higher ed. My Posse became a second family; we shared all the ups and downs of life during those exciting—and trying—college years: choosing classes, making friends, navigating Trinity, and eventually the job market and what comes next. Helping students launch into their lives is something I find so rewarding about being a professor at a small liberal arts college, where I have the time and space to be present and get to know students, and with my Posse, it was all of that and so much more. Weekly meetings, group activities, barbecues at my house, them watching my own children grow. Posse is an amazing program, bringing students to our schools who might not be a part of our community if not for the opportunity Posse provides. They add so much; they are always some of the most engaged students on campus, bringing their unique experiences, insights, and talents to everything they do. My Posse exemplified that additive quality of the program to our campus community. They made me so proud with how they were focused both as students and as campus leaders. As a consequence, I learned just as much, if not more, from them than they did from me, and I’ll be forever grateful I had the opportunity to know such an incredible group of young people. |
Tiara Ogunsanya ’25I really enjoyed my time as a Posse Scholar at Trinity. I say this all the time: What can make or break your college experience are the people you meet, and Posse truly created a space that cultivated meaningful connections with both students and leaders on campus. These relationships made my college experience even better than it would’ve been if I came to campus on my own. During my freshman year, I had the privilege of meeting the last cohort of New York Posse Scholars. They were seniors and graduated in the spring of 2022, but what I quickly realized was that both they and the Chicago Posse seniors were leading many of the cultural organizations at Trinity. Those Posse scholars took me under their wing, showed me what strong leadership looked like, and motivated me to step up and eventually take on leadership roles in both the Trinity African Students Association (TASA) and Faith Inspired Students at Trinity (FIST). Fast forward to my senior year, one of my favorite Posse memories was attending the PossePlus Retreat (PPR). It was the first year since COVID that we were able to go back to actual cabins for an overnight retreat. It reminded me of another reason why I love Posse—they truly foster community. Most Trinity Posse scholars, from freshmen to seniors, were there, and the theme that year was “A Weekend of Connection, Resilience, and Joy.” During the retreat, we had thoughtful conversations, bonded over the extreme cold, and had a great time together getting to know each other more. Lastly, I’ll share that Posse was about more than just community. They genuinely wanted Scholars to grow as thinkers, leaders, and professionals. Posse connected me with resources for interview preparation and résumé development and even supported me through the internship process. That internship ultimately led to the full-time job I have today. I’m incredibly grateful for the Posse program, and I truly wouldn’t have wanted to do college any other way. |
Patti Maisch, Posse MentorChicago Posse 1 has been a blessing in my life not only throughout those Trinity years but also still today. Watching as the Scholars’ work, families, and life progress to amazing heights is a godsend that I will treasure forever! I love them forever! |
