EL MONTE – Rosemead High School senior Wendy Sar has a knack for numbers and the mindset of an explorer. As a member of the Riordan Scholars Program at UCLA, Sar served as team leader in a stock market analysis competition, guiding her team to first place. The rigorous weekend classes did more than provide Sar with a challenge; they helped propel her to an elite university.

Sar will attend Northwestern University after being named a 2023 Posse Foundation scholar, one of just 10 Posse Los Angeles Chapter members to receive a full-ride scholarship to Northwestern. Sar, who is first in her class at Rosemead and holds a 4.42 GPA, will study economics and pursue a managerial analytics certificate. This is the fourth year in a row that a Rosemead High student has been awarded a Posse Foundation scholarship.

“This is an amazing honor. I can’t believe I’m going to Northwestern as a Posse scholar,” Sar said. “I’d like to thank my teacher Michelle Ban for all of her help and support. I always enjoyed her class because she was fun and energetic and pushed me to go outside my comfort zone. I’d also like to thank my counselor, Laura Garcia, and my teacher, Evelyn Saldana, who wrote letters of recommendation for me and always encouraged me throughout the process. And also, thank you to my mom and sisters, for inspiring and believing in me.”

Sar was recommended for the Posse scholarship by Ban, who teaches AP U.S. History and was named El Monte Union 2022-23 teacher of the year, as well as a 2022-23 L.A. County Teacher of the Year. Ban was so impressed by Sar’s academic performance, leadership skills and interpersonal relationships that she nominated Sar to represent Rosemead High at the American Legion Auxiliary Girls state program in Sacramento last summer.

Ban accompanied Sar to the Posse Foundation Awards ceremony at Regal LA in early January. At the event, Sar connected with Rosemead High Class of 2022 graduate and Posse scholarship winner Madison Loterina, who currently attends Bucknell University. Previous Rosemead Posse winners include Class of 2021 graduate Sheccid Rodriguez (Tulane University) and Class of 2020 graduate Tristan Tanchanco (Middlebury College).

“Wendy is an outstanding student, leader and community member. I am so proud of all her many accomplishments at Rosemead,” Ban said. “When she first entered my class, it was evident that she had the work ethic, resolve and problem solving skills to succeed. Wendy is a very impressive young adult, and I have no doubt that her ability to take on challenges with enthusiasm will propel her into a successful career in the business profession.”

As a sophomore, Sar began participating in the Saturday Business Institute’s Riordan Scholars program at UCLA, which serves as a business and college-prep program for high-achieving students. Sar credits the program for providing essential tools to guide her on the path to higher education.

“Riordan Scholars has made a huge impact on me,” Sar said. “Last year I studied the stock market and this year I’m studying real estate. They have exciting guest speakers that have provided me with deep insight into business and leadership and people who guided us throughout the college application process. It allowed me to grow as a person and develop my social skills, which was really valuable to me.”

Sar serves as vice president of Rosemead’s National Honor Society, is a member of the Key Club, the Going Academically to Extremes (GATE) Club, and the California Scholarship Federation. More than anything, Sar enjoys being outdoors and looking for new experiences. Since freshman year, Sar has contributed more than 300 hours of volunteer service in the community.

“Congratulations to Wendy Sar on her Posse scholarship. Rosemead High is proud to have Posse winners for four consecutive years, which is a testament to the dedication of our students, and the amazing work being done by our teachers and counselors,” Rosemead Principal Janine Salanitro said. “All the best to Wendy at Northwestern University and in her future career in business.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

EMUHSD_POSSE SCHOLARSHIP_1: Rosemead High School (RHS) senior and 2023 Posse Foundation scholar Wendy Sar (left) attends the Posse Foundation Awards ceremony at Regal LA in early January. Sar is accompanied by RHS AP U.S. History teacher Michelle Ban (center) who nominated her and connected with RHS Class of 2022 graduate and Posse scholarship winner Madison Loterina (right).

EMUHSD_POSSE SCHOLARSHIP_2: Rosemead High School senior Wendy Sar will attend Northwestern University in the fall after being named a 2023 Posse Foundation scholar, one of just 10 Posse Los Angeles Chapter members to receive a full-ride scholarship to Northwestern. Sar, who is first in her class at Rosemead with a 4.25 GPA, will study economics and pursue a managerial analytics certificate.