For Immediate Release

Monday, Jan. 8, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Melrose High School Senior Named Posse Scholar

Adonis Logan Receives Scholarship to Attend Centre College in Kentucky

MELROSE — Superintendent Cyndy Taymore is pleased to announce that Melrose High School senior Adonis Logan is one of 10 students in Massachusetts to be selected as a Posse Scholar at Centre College in Kentucky, where he will receive full tuition reimbursement throughout his four years studying environmental science.

Logan will be officially recognized for his accomplishment during a ceremony on Jan. 17 at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston. This year, 60 students from Boston will be awarded a collective $11.9 million in four-year, full-tuition Posse scholarships at Centre College, Bryn Mawr College, Bucknell University, Denison University, Hamilton College and Union College.

Founded in 1989, Posse is a college access and youth leadership development program that identifies public high school students who have excellence in academics and leadership, but may be overlooked by the traditional college selection process.

Each year, Posse partner colleges and universities award merit-based leadership scholarships to only 10 students, who are then placed in a supportive, multicultural team. These students meet regularly, from the time of their acceptance into the program until their graduation more than four years later.

Adonis, who is part of Melrose Public Schools’ METCO program, was nominated by METCO Director Doreen Ward last spring. After a lengthy and competitive interview process, Posse notified Logan in December that he received a scholarship to Centre College. He will head there upon graduation from MHS and plans to major in environmental science.

“When I found out I got in, I was very happy,” Logan said. “I was like, ‘Is this it?’ It didn’t really kick in, and I don’t think it’s really going to kick in that I’m going until I get on the plane.”

Logan excels in the classroom and is involved in several extracurricular activities, both at MHS and outside of school.

“Adonis is one of those students who has never shied away from a challenge,” Ward said. “He is a leader and is extremely deserving of this Posse scholarship.”

At MHS, Logan is president of the Do The Right Thing Club, which is the school’s only group that brings students together to talk about and address current events and social injustice issues.

He’s also been a part of the Melrose Alliance Against Violence since his sophomore year and regularly participates in informative assemblies, completes walks against domestic violence and creates literature surrounding teen dating violence, alcohol use and more to educate students.

Outside of MHS, Logan is an active member at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston: Yawkey Club of Roxbury. As president of the Teen Leadership Program, Keystone, Logan is involved with numerous community service endeavors, mentors his younger peers at the Boys & Girls Club and attends national conferences each year to expand his skills and education. Additionally, through the Boys & Girls Club, Logan was one of 12 people selected out of a group of nearly 40 to travel to India last year to complete additional community service projects.

“Being accepted into this nationally recognized and renowned program is a tremendous accomplishment,” Superintendent Taymore said. “While we’ve had Posse Scholars in the past, we’ve never had an MHS student represented at Centre College, so this is an exciting first for the district.”

About METCO:

The METCO Program, established in 1966, is a voluntary desegregation program intended to eliminate racial imbalance by expanding educational opportunities to students in Boston and increasing diversity at suburban partner schools. Melrose first implemented a program in 1974, and since then, has had five Posse Scholars, including Adonis Logan. Previous recipients include Chyna Powell – Bucknell University, Alexandra Collins – Bucknell University, Deborah Centeio – Bryn Mawr University and Danielle Taylor – Bucknell University.

About Posse:

The Posse Program is one of the most successful college access and youth leadership development programs in the country. Posse has chapters in Atlanta, the Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York City and Washington, D.C. More than 7,700 Posse Scholars have been accepted into top- tier universities. They have earned over $1.1 billion in full-tuition, leadership scholarships from Posse partner institutions. There are 2,700 scholars on college campuses across the country and over 3,600 Posse alumni. Posse Scholars persist and graduate from college at the exceptional rate of 90 percent—significantly above the national average.

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