Senior John Nguyen’s face lit up with excitement when he received a call asking what his favorite color was. “Maroon!” John replied. That same evening, senior Nicholas Cordova read and reread the email, letting the magnitude of the news sink in. Later that week, senior Julian Nguyen sprang out of his seat and saw that the Posse organization was dialing his number.

The announcement would change their lives: all three seniors had been named recipients of the prestigious Posse Scholarship, granting them full tuition for their undergraduate education, as well as several benefits, such as pre-collegiate training and career counseling in college. Once on campus, Posse Scholars become part of a close-knit support group, or “Posse,” which consists of a diverse cohort of students who uplift each other through their college experience.

Becoming a Posse Scholar is no easy task. The process includes three rounds of interviews, supplemental essays and a nomination from your school, with each round cutting more and more candidates. The final and most intense part of the process is the last round of group interviews, known as the Dynamic Assessment Process (DAP3). All scholarship winners recall their performance in this round as an integral part of their winning the scholarship.

“I tried to smile as much as I could and be friendly with everyone,” John said. “I remember the night before I went on Indeed, and I searched up job interview questions and strategies that I could use.”

John, who was matched with Texas A&M University, emphasized the importance of staying confident and authentic throughout the interview to best convey to the interviewer his values and passions.

For Julian, this meant highlighting experiences like speaking at a school board meeting, where he advocated for public education.

“Posse is looking for the next leaders of our country,” he said. “It’s not about holding titles—it’s about how you exemplify leadership in your life,” Julian said.

Julian, who is heading to Vanderbilt University, noted that Posse places a greater emphasis on individual character rather than achievement. His view of Posse is that they are looking for talented students who may be “overlooked in the normal college application process.”

Cordova, who will also be attending Texas A&M University, reflects on his faith and perseverance to be key factors in his journey to becoming a Posse Scholar.

“I always prayed to God before [each interview], hoping for the best and knowing that [god] was with me,” he said. “I just kept pushing through.”

During his DAP3 interview, Cordova highlighted his leadership role in the CVHS Boys Soccer team to demonstrate his qualifications. He firmly believed in presenting his authentic self during the interview, understanding that if he were not accepted, it would simply mean that the program wasn’t seeking someone like him. As a first-generation Hispanic student with immigrant parents, Cordova feels he carries a deep sense of responsibility to honor his parents sacrifices.

“My parents gave everything to [my brother and me], so I want to give everything back,” Cordova remarked.

Although all three Posse Scholars felt their interviews went well, they were still shocked when they received the news that they had won the scholarship.

For John, the call came late at night when he least expected it.

“I really thought I didn’t get it,” John admitted. “Why would they call me at such a late time?”

But after the Posse representative asked him a series of questions, including how often he visited his sisters at Texas A&M, he finally realized. He was a Posse Scholar.

“I didn’t believe it,” John recalled. “I was really excited and realized that all my hard work [in high school] paid off.”

John found the scholarship to be beneficial beyond its full tuition coverage. He saw it as a platform to propel his aspirations of becoming a physician.

“Posse does have some professional development and career outreach, so I’ll be able to meet other people in my field, as well as alumni who have also had the same experience as me and my posse,” John shared.

Julian Nguyen’s moment of discovery came during dinner when he was exhausted after his final interview.

“I had already known that if I got a call, it [meant] I got the scholarship,” Julian explained. “When I saw the call, I jumped up. I was ecstatic.”

The call served as validation of his efforts and leadership throughout the interview process.

“The Posse process is draining, but it’s worth it,” he added. “It’s a 50-50 chance once you get to the final [interview] round, so you want to give it your all because you’re close to achieving something really great.”

For Julian, Posse is more than just a scholarship: “It’s job opportunities, a built-in community, and a chance to grow with a group of students from Houston,” Julian stated.

As someone interested in public policy and architecture, Julian sees the scholarship as a stepping stone to his aspirations of attending law school and making a difference in his community.

When Cordova  got the call from Posse, he was confused.

“They started by asking if I had ever played soccer at [A&M’s] Kyle Field,” Cordova said.

The Posse representative then followed up, asking if he would like to play there next year, which made Cordova pause in realization that he had won the scholarship.

To Cordova, the Posse Scholarship will enable him to fuel his passion for biomedical engineering. He hopes to work with prosthetics and pursue internships in biomechanics.

“What excites me about A&M is how big the campus is and how many people there are,” he said. Cordova explained. “You get to meet new people and have so many opportunities.”

Reflecting on the Posse experience, John, Julian and Cordova highlight the importance of authenticity and character to winning the scholarship.

“The college application process taught me to reflect on who I am,” Julian said. “It’s not about checking boxes—it’s about being passionate and showing how you want to make a difference.”

John shares a similar perspective, adding that the process helped him build confidence in his abilities.

“Even if you don’t win the scholarship, going through the process [and progressing through each stage] shows that someone saw something in you,” John said. “That’s a powerful lesson to carry forward.”