Four School For Advanced Studies Students Selected As Posse Scholars

Four School for Advanced Studies students, Andrea Perla, Brayan Ruiz, Tomas Perez and Chris Rosario, were selected as recipients of the Posse Foundation Scholarship.

Each student will receive full tuition and an advisor to help them through their four years at a partner college of their choice.

Founded in 1989, Posse matches selective colleges and public high school students with academic and leadership qualities who may be overlooked by the traditional college selection process. Every year, about 16,000 students are nominated for fewer than 800 scholarships.

“I think that the students who were selected really epitomize the School for Advanced Studies and they show that they are resilient, have phenomenal work ethic and intellectual ability, and I have no doubt that the students will do exceptionally well in any endeavor they embark on,” said Omar Monteagudo, principal of the School for Advanced Studies.

After being nominated for the scholarship, the students underwent three interviews. All of the interviews are conducted by Posse personnel and students are notified of their acceptance on the day of their final interview.

Andrea Perla

Andrea Perla, 18, earned what she had dreamed for since freshman year— a nomination from her counselor, Arlene Martinez, to become a Posse Scholar.

“Really there was a lot of anxiety going through the initial phases of the process. This was such a big thing,” said Perla, a senior at SAS at Wolfson Campus. “I wanted to make sure I did everything right but the moment I started the interview process, they really did everything they could to make me as comfortable as can be so that they can really get an idea of who I am.”

After going through the list of partnered colleges offered to her, Perla chose to attend Pomona College, a private liberal arts college in Claremont, California, where she plans to double major in chemistry and Latin American Studies. She hopes to become a surgeon.

“I didn’t really expect to go so far,” Perla said. “I was initially planning on just staying on the east coast, but the more I researched the school and looked at the campus the more I fell in love with it.”

During her time at SAS, she earned a 4.6 weighted GPA, interned at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine labs, served as president of the gay straight alliance club and was vice president of the women of tomorrow club.

Tomas Perez

From language barriers to culture shock, Tomas Perez, an SAS student at Homestead Campus, found countless barriers when he immigrated from Cuba five years ago.

“Coming from Cuba, my biggest struggle was learning the language and doing what I could to avoid having my accent show,” Perez said. “It made me a little self conscious about it and I was quieter in class but through the friends I made here and the service opportunities I’ve had, it’s helped me open up my personality.”

Perez, 18, first heard of the Posse Foundation when a director came to speak about the program six months ago. For him, it was a great opportunity to be able to experience college out of state without being burdened by tuition costs.

“The whole interview process made this very personal. Your GPA and [test] scores say a lot about you but when you get to talk to people and show them who you are, it makes you feel like you have the opportunity to show how unique you are,” Perez said .

Perez will be attending Hamilton College, a private liberal arts college in Clinton, New York, where he will be majoring in neuroscience.

While at SAS, Perez managed to maintain a 3.9 unweighted GPA, volunteered at Homestead Baptist Hospital, interned with the finance department in the City of Homestead City Hall, served as president of the investment club and volunteered at Biscayne National Park, where he assisted in monitoring and saving sea turtles.

Perez credits his volunteering work for helping him transition into living in the United States and becoming a more active member of his community.

“Going outside of school helped me experience the culture and meet new people and engage in a different world that you just can’t do inside the classroom,” Perez said.

Chris Rosario

Chris Rosario, 18, an SAS student at Wolfson Campus, first heard of the Posse Scholarship during his sophomore year, when the foundation came to his class and gave a presentation on what the scholarship offers its scholars.  

“This meeting was important for me because not only did I find out about the opportunities that I can have if I receive this scholarship, but it was an immediate fit for me because I know that I’ll be able to show my true capacity as a person,” Rosario said.  “When I got the scholarship, I was in complete awe because I knew all the hard work I had put in during school paid off and I have the opportunity to go to a great school in an area I love.”

Rosario will be attending Pomona College in California where he will be majoring in biology. Rosario hopes to become a pediatric surgeon.

“I’ve had the privilege of being able to travel across the country and when I went to California, I fell in love with it,” Rosario said. “Whether it’s the people, the sights, everything about the state I love, so being able to go to school here is the best thing imaginable.”  

While at SAS, Rosario maintained a 4.5 weighted GPA. He also took part in competitive jump rope, served as president of the medical club, founded Health Occupations Students of America, a medical competition at his school and was vice president of the gay straight alliance club.

Brayan Ruiz

Brayan Ruiz was a sophomore when he watched his older brother apply and become a Posse Scholar. That inspired Ruiz, an SAS student at Homestead Campus, to apply for the scholarship as well.

“After seeing what my brother was able to do with this scholarship, I knew I had to be a part of it,” Ruiz said. “I wanted to be a part of something that makes a change in the community and the future.”  

Ruiz, 17, plans on attending Franklin and Marshall College, a private liberal arts college in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he will major in biology. He plans on becoming a sports medicine physician.

“The main thing that lured me to Franklin and Marshall is the fact that this one offers me the best possibility to go to med school,” Ruiz said. “This school is the best one that could bridge me to what my goals in the future are.”

While at SAS, Ruiz maintained a 5.03 weighted GPA, was a member of the National Honor Society, a member of the investment club and a former captain for of his soccer team.

He also tutored students in math in his community and was involved in the Health Occupations Students of America for two years where he won first place in the district and second in the state competition.