| Among those marching proudly at commencement ceremonies last weekend at UW-Madison were the trailblazers representing the first class of students to graduate from the Posse Foundation Program and the Pre-College Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence -- known as the PEOPLE Program. I am very fortunate to have played a major leadership role, with the support of Chancellors Ward and Wiley, in bringing these programs to the UW-Madison campus. PEOPLE and Posse, core components of the University's Plan 2008 Diversity effort, are programs that were created to build the pipeline of diverse and talented students to the UW. The first freshmen from these programs enrolled in Fall of 2002. The statistics on the success of both programs and the performance of these budding scholars is phenomenal. The guru who has led a highly committed and competent staff for the PEOPLE and Posse Programs from concept to design to full-fledged implementation is Walter Lane, Assistant Dean in the School of Education. Just what is the PEOPLE Program? PEOPLE is a pipeline program for middle and high school students created in a partnership with school districts in Milwaukee, Madison, Racine, Waukesha, the Ho Chunk and Menominee Indian Nations. The Madison community has profited the most with the largest percentage of students coming from the Madison Metropolitan School District. Students with academic potential are recruited and placed in a program designed to motivate them, instill within them the skills, confidence and desire to perform academically, and ultimately prepare them to pursue and be successful in attaining higher education degrees. Scholars who stay with the program through high school graduation and matriculate at UW-Madison are rewarded with a tuition scholarship, academic support and mentoring. According to Director Lane, the first cohort of 66 PEOPLE high school students was selected from the Milwaukee Public Schools district as rising 9th graders during the 1999-2000 academic year. In a district that struggles with drop-out rates that hover around 50% Lane was very proud to note that 100% of the students in that first cohort graduated from high school. Of the 24 that matriculated at UW-Madison in Fall of 2002, 21 have persisted and continued to progress towards their degrees. Five of the scholars graduated last week and the 16 remaining are on track to graduate from the UW within the next two years. The overall retention rate for PEOPLE Scholars at the UW after 4 years is 88%. The retention rate for all students at the UW is 84%. Today, there are approximately 1,200 PEOPLE scholars in the pipeline from all of the participating school districts. The Program is focused at targeted students and those who are low-income or first generation in college. Demographically, the breakdown of participating students is 37% African American, 14% Hispanic, 19% Asian American, 6% American Indian. with the remainder being White, biracial, other, and unreported. For this coming Fall Semester 2006, 75 new freshmen PEOPLE Scholars will enroll at the UW to bring the total number of undergraduates up to 180. What is the Posse Program? Posse was created by the Posse Foundation headquartered in New York City. Posse scholars are recruited and selected in a partnership between the Posse Foundation, the Chicago and Los Angeles Posse Offices and UW-Madison. Cohorts or posse's of 10 students are selected each year based on academic potential, ability to overcome adversity, and demonstrated leadership skills. Posse Scholars are awarded a tuition scholarship and provided with academic support and mentoring. For the Fall of 2006, a total of 97 Posse Scholars will enroll at UW-Madison. Demographically, the breakdown is: 38.5% Latino, 38% African American, 10% Asian American, 11.5% White, and 2% multiracial. In the Fall of 2002, the UW enrolled Posse scholars consisting of 18 new freshmen from Chicago. Fourteen of the original 18 students continued to progress towards their degree. Four of those students graduated last week and the remaining 11 students are on track to graduate within the next two years. The retention rate for the first cohort of Posse students is 78% and the overall retention rate for all Posse students is 90%. What does Director Lane have to say about how the contributions of these two programs and their students? "I am extremely proud of their achievements. The PEOPLE and Posse Scholars have played a positive and constructive role on campus in terms of participating in student organizations, student government and building interracial bridges through dialogues on campus. These first classes of PEOPLE and Posse Scholars are the ambassadors and trailblazers for their Programs and for their people. They have set a most positive example for all of the others enrolled or who have yet to enroll in these programs." What is the message for those who have provided funding for these very important Programs? Director Lane: "We are deeply gratified for the support that we have received from the participating school districts, the UW, the State of Wisconsin, SBC, and many other corporate and individual sponsors. Their investments in these scholars have already paid many important dividends and many more yet to come. They have helped this great University create the next generation of leaders for our community, state, and nation. The PEOPLE and Posse scholars leave here fully equipped to continue to dialogue and help address even greater issues in society. Kudos for a job well done to PEOPLE and Posse Director Walter Lane, his staff, the UW and all who have made an investment in these Programs. I salute the first class of PEOPLE and Posse graduates of UW-Madison. PEOPLE Scholars: Bonnie Williams, LaToya Hartwright, Jasmin Carter, Natalie Orosco and Der Cha. Posse Scholars: Kannitha Sith, Angelina Orozco, Jing Jing Wang and Momoko Sato. |
| The Literary Divide/Dr. Paul Barrows A proud day for a Posse of PEOPLE |
 |
 |
| homepage May 17, 2006 Issue Preview |
 |
| The first PEOPLE students entered the program in the ninth grade in 1999. Members of this class are now the first to graduate with degrees from UW-Madison. (l-r) Der Cha, LaToya Hartwright, Jasmin Carter, Bonnie Williams, and Natalie Orosco |
 |
| The first UW-Madison Posse Scholars to graduate (l-r) Jing Jing Wang, Kanitha Sith, Momoko Sato, and Angelina Orozco |