Excelencia in Education Recognizes Programs Intentionally Serving Latino Students in Higher Education

Contact: Media@EdExcelencia.org

Eighteen Programs Attain National Recognition as Examples of Excelencia Finalists for Evidence-Based Practices Making a Positive Impact on Latino Student Success 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 13, 2024) –In our 20th year of service to accelerate Latino student success in higher education, Excelencia in Education announced today the finalists for the 2024 Examples of Excelencia, recognizing 18 programs across the country that intentionally serve Latino students in higher education with culturally relevant and asset-based programming. 

Examples of Excelencia is the only national, data-driven effort to identify, aggregate, and promote evidence-based practices increasing Latino student success in higher education. Since 2005, Excelencia has received over 2,000 program submissions, recognized over 400 programs for their impact, and raised and awarded over $2 million to programs making a positive difference for Latino students across the country. 

This year’s finalists demonstrate an intentional and aligned approach in supporting Latino and other post-traditional students academically, financially, and socially. These efforts lead to improved retention and persistence rates as students work toward credit and degree completion. Practitioners and leaders can look to the 2024 Examples of Excelencia finalists as models of what is possible when you intentionally serve Latino, and all, students. 

“Participating in Examples of Excelencia allows practitioners to assess and share the impact of their program on Latino participants. Excelencia applauds this year’s finalists for ensuring their programming intentionally serves Latino students in comprehensive and asset-based ways to support them to and through college,” said Adriana Rodriguez, COO and vice president for institutional programs at Excelencia in Education. 

The 18 finalists were selected through a review of 103 program submissions representing higher education institutions and community-based organizations across 20 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico in four categories: associate, baccalaureate, graduate, and community-based organizations. Programmatic details about the finalists will be featured online in Excelencia’s Growing What Works Database — the only national, searchable database for institutional leaders, funders, policymakers, and others interested in evidence-based programming for Latino students.

On September 30, Excelencia will announce four of the 18 finalists selected as the 2024 Examples of Excelencia at Celebración de Excelencia, the organization’s annual recognition event, in Washington, D.C. The event convenes practitioners, policymakers, and professionals who are setting the national agenda for Latino student success in higher education. 

This year, Excelencia in Education also recognizes 12 Programs to Watch from eight states. These programs were identified because of their promising efforts already making a positive impact on Latino student success while building their evidence of effectiveness. 

The 2024 Examples of Excelencia finalists are: 

ASSOCIATE LEVEL: 

• Community Health Worker from the Richard J. Daley College and the Arturo Velasquez Institute – Chicago, IL 
• English for Academic Purposes from Reading Area Community College – Reading, PA 
• NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) from Cerritos College – Norwalk, CA 
• Pathway to Law School from Santa Ana College – Santa Ana, CA 
• The Village from Cerritos College – Norwalk, CA 
• The Writing Center from Santa Barbara City College – Santa Barbara, CA 

BACCALAUREATE LEVEL: 

• College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) Scholars Project from Arizona State University – Tempe, AZ 
• Pedagogical Interest Groups (PIGs) from Indiana University Northwest – Gary, IN 
• The College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) from Washington State University – Pullman, WA 
• Upward Bound from California State University, San Bernardino – San Bernardino, CA 

GRADUATE LEVEL: 

• Master of Science in Higher Education (MSHE) from California State University, Fullerton – Fullerton, CA 
• Master of Arts in Multilingual and Multicultural Studies from Texas Woman’s University – Denton, TX 
• Project upGRADS from California State University, Fullerton – Fullerton, CA 

COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS: 

• College Bound / College Success from Foundation for a College Education – East Palo Alto, CA 
• LEAF College Success Program from Latino Education Advancement Foundation – San Jose, CA 
• Career Pathways: Empowering Students to Succeed from The Immokalee Foundation, Inc. – Immokalee, FL 
• Thrive Scholars 6-Year Program from Thrive Scholars – Los Angeles, CA 
• Enhancing Career Pathways for Latinos in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) from Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA) – Mercedes, TX 

Learn more about the 2024 finalists for the Examples of Excelencia: EdExcelencia.org/what-works-examples-excelencia/examples-excelencia-finalists

About Excelencia in Education
Launched in 2004 in the nation’s capital, Excelencia in Education leads a national network of results-oriented educators and policymakers to tap the talents of the Latino community and address the U.S. economy’s needs for a highly educated workforce and engaged civic leaders. With this network, Excelencia accelerates Latino student success in higher education by promoting Latino student achievement, informing educational policies with a Latino lens, and advancing evidence-based practices. In 2024, Excelencia marks 20 years of commitment to Latino student success. For more information, visit: EdExcelencia.org