Examples of Excelencia Finalists
2024
This year, Excelencia in Education received 103 program submissions for Examples of Excelencia from 20 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Of these submissions, 18 programs were selected as finalists for Examples of Excelencia. These programs positively impact their Latino students and local communities by incorporating intentional and culturally relevant evidence-based practices. They are models of what works for higher education leadership seeking asset-based programming that is sustainable, replicable, and data-informed.
Since 2005, Excelencia in Education has received over 2,000 program submissions; recognized over 400 programs for their efforts accelerating Latino student success, and awarded over $2 million to programs making a positive difference for Latino students. The 2024 Examples of Excelencia finalists join a national community of practitioners committed to Latino student success.
We invite you to learn more about these leading programs through this year’s What Works for Latino Students in Higher Education compendium.
ASSOCIATE LEVEL:
Example of Excelencia: English for Academic Purposes | Reading Area Community College (PA)
Institution/Organization: Reading Area Community College
State: Pennsylvania
Issue Area: Academic Program
Program Focus: Bilingual/ESL
Learn More: https://www.EdExcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/english-academic-purposes-eap-program
Community Health Worker | Richard J. Daley College and the Arturo Velasquez Institute (IL)
Institution/Organization: Richard J. Daley College and the Arturo Velasquez Institute
State: Illinois
Issue Area: Access
Program Focus: Adult Learners, Bilingual/ESL
Learn More: www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/community-health-worker
NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) | Cerritos College (CA)
Institution/Organization: Cerritos College
State: California
Issue Area: Academic Program
Program Focus: Transfer, STEM
Pathway to Law School | Santa Ana College (CA)
Institution/Organization: Santa Ana College
State: California
Issue Area: Academic Program
Program Focus: Discipline/Subject, Transfer
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/pathway-to-law-school
The Village | Cerritos College (CA)
Institution/Organization: Cerritos College
State: California
Issue Area: Support Services
Program Focus: Other (Housing Insecurity)
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/the-village
The Writing Center | Santa Barbara City College (CA)
Institution/Organization: Santa Barbara City College
State: California
Issue Area: Support Services
Program Focus: Bilingual/ESL, First Year Support
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/the-writing-center
BACCALAUREATE LEVEL:
Example of Excelencia: The College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) | Washington State University (WA)
Institution/Organization: Washington State University
State: Washington
Issue Area: Support Services
Program Focus: First-Year Support
College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) Scholars Project | Arizona State University (AZ)
Institution/Organization: Arizona State University
State: Arizona
Issue Area: Retention
Program Focus: First Year Support, Scholarship
Pedagogical Interest Groups (PIGs) | Indiana University Northwest (IN)
Institution/Organization: Indiana University Northwest
State: Indiana
Issue Area: Retention
Program Focus: Faculty Development, First Year Support
Upward Bound | California State University, San Bernardino (CA)
Institution/Organization: California State University, San Bernardino
State: California
Issue Area: Support Services
Program Focus: College Prep
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/upward-bound
GRADUATE LEVEL:
Example of Excelencia: Project upGRADS | California State University, Fullerton (CA)
Institution/Organization: California State University, Fullerton
State: California
Issue Area: Support Services
Program Focus: First Year Support, Mentoring
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/project-upgrads
Master of Science in Higher Education (MSHE) | California State University, Fullerton (CA)
Institution/Organization: California State University, Fullerton
State: California
Issue Area: Academic Program
Program Focus: Career/Workforce
Master of Arts in Multilingual and Multicultural Studies | Texas Woman’s University (TX)
Institution/Organization: Texas Woman’s University
State: Texas
Issue Area: Academic Program
Program Focus: Bilingual/ESL, Mentoring
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (CBO) LEVEL:
Example of Excelencia: Career Pathways: Empowering Students to Succeed | The Immokalee Foundation, Inc. (FL)
Institution/Organization: The Immokalee Foundation, Inc.
State: Florida
Issue Area: Access
Program Focus: Career/Workforce, Scholarship
College Bound / College Success | Foundation for a College Education (CA)
Institution/Organization: Foundation for a College Education
State: California
Issue Area: Support Services
Program Focus: College Prep
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/college-bound-college-success
LEAF College Success Program | Latino Education Advancement Foundation (CA)
Institution/Organization: Latino Education Advancement Foundation`
State: California
Issue Area: Support Services
Program Focus: Family Engagement, First Year Support
Thrive Scholars 6-Year Program | Thrive Scholars (CA)
Institution/Organization: Thrive Scholars
State: California
Issue Area: Support Services
Program Focus: Career/Workforce, First Year Support
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/thrive-scholars-6-year-program
Enhancing Career Pathways for Latinos in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) | Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA) (TX)
Institution/Organization: Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA)
State: Texas
Issue Area: Support Services
Program Focus: Adult Learners, Career/Workforce