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
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:
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