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The first group of Posse Foundation students from Washington, D.C., have made their way to Lafayette this fall with help from Brian Sklar ’97 and the College’s D.C. alumni chapter.
“The program has been instrumental in giving students from urban areas the chance to go to schools they may not normally have the chance to attend, such as Lafayette,” Sklar says.
The foundation identifies, recruits, and trains student leaders from public high schools for multicultural teams called “posses.” These groups are then prepared, through eight months of intensive pre-collegiate training, for enrollment at top-tier universities nationwide, where they help promote cross-cultural communication on campus while pursuing their studies.
Sklar, who stepped down recently as president of the D.C. chapter after serving in the role two years, was among the alumni who served as writing coaches, and also mentored Posse students and shared his experiences at Lafayette.
“I love being able to share what I have learned working in Washington,” he says. “I have been blessed to have met so many great people and have doors opened for me. I want to pass that along.”
This fall, Sklar, who also has worked with Lafayette student externs, received the William E. Greenip Jr. ’44Award, which honors an Alumni Association officer with voluntary service achievements beyond regular assignments.
Having majored in English and government & law, Sklar serves as an analyst on the Homeland Security and Justice Team of the U.S. General Accountability Office in Washington, D.C.
Sklar organizes the telecast party for the annual Lafayette-Lehigh football game in the nation’s capital. He says the thriving alumni base there always has a large turnout.
“Our chapter has been burgeoning,” he says. “I think that is thanks to all of those who have put the time and effort into continuing the great programs Lafayette has made available.”
While Sklar is honored to have been selected for the Greenip Award, he believes the real honoree is the D.C. chapter.
“I think the award says much more about all of the great alumni who still continue to have pride in Lafayette and want to see the College continue to provide an excellent education,” he says.
Lafayette’s participation in the Posse program with New York students is supported by the Judith C. White Foundation, a New York-based nonprofit headed by Jeffrey Kovner ’66, which has established a $250,000 endowment to promote and enhance diversity at Lafayette. The foundation also is giving $10,000 in each of the next three years to fund a leadership retreat weekend for Posse students. The contributions are a challenge grant for which Lafayette is raising additional donations to reach at least $1.2 million.