Leah Saahene '26 Earns Posse Scholarship to Connecticut College

At Loyola, Leah is deeply engaged in both academic and cocurricular life. She is a member of the Bowman First-Gen Program, competes in Varsity Track & Field, and is actively involved in DICE, Step Team, Torch Club, and the African American Youth Group (AAYG). Across these spaces, Leah is known for her thoughtful leadership, steady presence, and commitment to community.

 

Reflecting on her Loyola experience, Leah credits the school's Jesuit values with shaping her growth and confidence.

 

"Loyola has played a huge role in shaping who I am today," she shares. "The emphasis on RIPLOC and becoming a woman for others encouraged me to give Posse a try. I truly could not have done it without the support of the Bowman First-Gen Leaders Program and Loyola's Counseling department. Through Bowman, I developed confidence in spaces I was initially unfamiliar with and learned how to advocate for myself academically and personally. The Counseling department helped me stay grounded during moments of uncertainty and deepened my understanding of empathy, mental health, and support systems."

 

Leah also points to her Ignatian Journey course with Mr. Dugan as particularly formative.

 

"The class challenged me to deeply reflect on who I am and who I am called to be," she says. "That reflection became especially meaningful during the Posse DAP process. It helped me think intentionally about my identity, purpose, and values, allowing me to approach the process authentically and trust that being myself was enough."

 

Reflecting on what the scholarship means to her, Leah shares, 

 

“Receiving the Posse Scholarship means that I get the opportunity to continue my education surrounded by a community that uplifts me and reminds me that leadership is built through collaboration and support."

 

Bowman First-Gen Leader Coordinator Robert Metellus highlights Leah's growth and impact within the program.

 

"Leah embodies the very heart of the Bowman First-Gen Leaders Program," Metellus shares. "Throughout her time at Loyola, we have had many intentional conversations about her academic and personal goals. In every instance, she approached those goals with thoughtfulness, diligence, and integrity. Leah leads with quiet confidence, reflection, and purpose, and has grown into a self-advocate who consistently lifts others as she moves forward. Her selection as a Posse Scholar affirms both the intentional work she has done and the leader she continues to become. She is a powerful reflection of what we aspire all Ramblers to be—and there is no limit to what she can accomplish."

 

Clare Nelson-Johnson "09, Leah's School Counselor, describes her as a student whose leadership is both authentic and quietly transformative.

 

"Leah is one of those rare, quietly powerful individuals who doesn’t just walk her own path—she creates it," Nelson-Johnson shares. "She is resilient, reflective, and deeply grounded. She carries herself with a self-assuredness that invites others to grow alongside her. She will be deeply missed around campus, and is more than ready to continue changing this world for the better."

 

Throughout the college discernment and application process, Leah worked closely with Mark Porcaro, her College Counselor and College Counseling Department Chair, who praised both her character and readiness for the rigors of the Posse process.

"It has been a great joy working with Leah," Porcaro says. "She is introspective, bright, and mature—qualities that were clear in every part of her Posse application. Any college would be fortunate to welcome her. There is no doubt she will thrive at Connecticut College and serve as an inspiration for many Ramblers to come."

 

At Connecticut College, Leah plans to pursue a major in psychology on the public health pathway, with a focus on understanding mental health, community well-being, and systems of care.

 

Founded in 1989, The Posse Foundation partners with top colleges and universities to identify exceptional young leaders whose talents and potential may not always be fully recognized through traditional admissions processes. Through its highly selective Dynamic Assessment Process (DAP)—a months-long series of group and individual evaluations—Posse identifies students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, resilience, and a commitment to community. Fewer than five percent of applicants nationwide are ultimately selected as Posse Scholars.

 

More information about The Posse Foundation can be found at https://www.possefoundation.org/.