August 8, 2019 For information contact: Media Contact: media@EdExcelencia.org Initiatives across the nation recognized for accelerating Latino student success Washington, D.C. – Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority in driving change to accelerate Latino success in higher education, has named 16 initiatives as 2019 Examples of Excelencia finalists and 20 others as Programs to Watch. Now, more than ever, higher education needs Examples of Excelencia, as this is the country’s only national effort to identify, honor and promote evidence-based practices that accelerate Latino student success in higher education. Recent events highlight the void that currently exists and why this endeavor has relevance and national importance. “By promoting and celebrating what works in serving Latino students in higher education, Excelencia increases awareness about the positive impact of the growth of the Latino population and programs that serve them well,” said Sarita Brown, President of Excelencia in Education. “Examples of Excelencia inspires leaders to implement innovations that can serve all students.” The 2019 Examples of Excelencia will be revealed on October 24, 2019, at the Celebración de Excelencia in Washington, DC at the Mayflower Hotel. This year, Excelencia received 166 program nominations from 32 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. One program will be chosen from each of four categories – Associate, Baccalaureate, Graduate and Community-Based Organizations – by a national selection committee comprised of higher education leaders, grantmakers, professionals, and stakeholders. The final four will be chosen based on evidence of their effectiveness to serve Latino academic achievement at their institutions and community organizations. Created in 2004 by its two visionary leaders, Excelencia in Education’s mission is to ensure America’s future economic success by addressing ways to produce a highly educated workforce and new civic leadership from the country’s largest ethnic population, Hispanics. At 15, the organization is recognized as a trusted source on Latino student achievement; as a resource for influencing education policy at the institutional, state, and national levels; and as an advocate for the use of evidence-based practices and strategies to accelerate success for all, leading with Latino students. To support that goal, Excelencia launched Examples of Excelencia that identifies, reviews, and highlights effective programs at colleges and universities, as well as community-based organizations. From the nominations, finalists are presented to the external selection committee to choose four programs as this year’s Examples of Excelencia. Through that process Excelencia also identifies and recognizes deserving efforts with the designation of Programs to Watch. Those programs are either relatively new with promising potential yet limited data, or use effective practices not-easily quantified. The 2019 Examples of Excelencia finalists from the East are: The Latinx Leadership Initiative at Boston College School of Social Work The Crosby Scholars Program by the Crosby Scholars Community Partnership in North Carolina YMCA Latino Achievers by the YMCA of Middle Tennessee The Latino U Scholars Program by Latino U College Access in New York From the Midwest and Southwest, the finalists are: Guided Pathways Advising Through Coaching at Austin Community College Ichabod Success Institute at Washburn University Project MALES (Mentoring to Achieve Latino Educational Success) at the University of Texas-Austin Promesa Scholars at Ferris State University ¡Exito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training at the Institute for Health Promotion Research, University of Texas Health, San Antonio Believe and Achieve by the Trinity River Mission in Texas From the West, the finalists are: Center for Community College Partnerships (CCCP) at UCLA Promises & Pathways: Scaling Developmental Education Reform at Cuyamaca College Attract, Inspire, Mentor, and Support Students - The AIMS2 Program at California State University, Northridge College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) at Washington State University Pathways to Academic Success & Opportunities (PASO) at California State University, San Marcos Cal-Bridge at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona To learn more about this year’s Examples of Excelencia finalists visit: https://www.edexcelencia.org/2019-examples-excelencia-finalists This 2019 Programs to Watch from the East are: Esperanza Postsecondary Support Program: Supporting Hispanic Student College Entry, Persistence, and Graduation by Esperanza Inc. of Ohio Generation Hope by Generation Hope of Washington, D.C. STEM Institute for Scholastic Leadership Experience (ISLE) at Miami Dade College UNCG CHANCE: Campamento Hispano Abriendo Nuestro Camino a la Educación at University of North Carolina at Greensboro From the Midwest and Southwest, the Programs to Watch are: First-Generation and Transfer Student Center at University of Texas at San Antonio I-CARE Grant (Integrating a Culture of Academic and Research Engagement) at Texas A&M University-Kingsville Jaguar Connection at South Texas College Mi Casa Es Su Casa at Lone Star College-North Harris Pathways to Technology Early College High Schools at Dallas County Community College District PIONERAS at Texas Woman's University Pritzker Access Scholarship Program by the Noble Network of Charter Schools in Illinois STEM Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) at Texas State University This year’s Programs to Watch from the West are: Channel Your Success – University Culture Pathways at California State University, Channel Islands Chemeketa Completion Program from Chemeketa Community College Encuentros Teacher Academy by Encuentros Leadership of California Hancock Promise - Changing the Odds at Allan Hancock College LMU Transfer Pathway Program at Loyola Marymount University Problem-based Initiatives for Powerful Engagement and Learning In Naval Engineering and Science (PIPELINES) at University of California, Santa Barbara Project ALAS (Aligning Learning & Academic Success) at California State University, Channel Islands Undocumented Student Success Center at California State University, San Bernardino. To find the details and learn more about the 2019 Programs to Watch, visit: https://www.edexcelencia.org/2019-programs-watch Since 2005, Excelencia has highlighted a total of 328 programs as Examples of Excelencia and Programs to Watch. About Excelencia in Education Excelencia in Education accelerates Latino student success in higher education by promoting Latino student achievement, conducting analysis to inform educational policies, and advancing institutional practices while collaborating with those committed and ready to meet the mission. Launched in 2004 in the nation’s capital, Excelencia has established a network of results-oriented educators and policymakers to address the U.S. economy’s needs for a highly educated workforce and engaged civic leaders. For more information, visit: http://www.EdExcelencia.org ### Download Resources Press Release - 2019 Examples of Excelencia Finalists and Programs to Watch
