Martin’s journey from Colombian immigrant to Posse Scholar is a testament to his dedication, perseverance and the power of community.  Martin not only overcame the language barrier, but had to conquer his belief that a college education wouldn’t be possible because of the finances required.  “I didn’t think college was an option for me,” he says. Thankfully, Martin had a strong community of support behind him who saw the potential in him to succeed.  Between Erica Telisnor, his Boston HERC Coach, his mother, and a guidance counselor, who nominated Martin for the Posse scholarship, all contributed to his achievement.  

Everything changed for Martin after the Posse nomination, enabling his dreams of helping his family, making his mother proud, and becoming a musician finally feel within reach.  Ms. T spent countless hours helping Martin apply to schools and fill out financial aid applications.  “The Posse Scholar application process was time-consuming and tedious, but I’m so glad I did it,” he says. Martin found out in December that he was chosen as a scholar and earned full-tuition to Centre College in Kentucky.

Martin will be majoring in Music Composition, a passion he developed when his mother and siblings gifted him piano lessons while he still lived in his native Colombia. He loved music so much that he knew it would be his life’s pursuit.  His talent and natural aptitude even earned him a solo piano performance during the Boston HERC’s annual celebration last year. Now, as he prepares to begin his studies at Centre College, Martin is excited about the new chapter ahead. He’s ready to embrace a new community and continue his journey—one step closer to turning his dreams of music into reality.