Examples of Excelencia
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. These programs exemplify what is possible when higher education institutions and community-based organizations (CBO) intentionally serve Latino, and all, students on their journey to and through college.
Since 2005, Excelencia has received over 2,500 program submissions, recognized over 400 programs for their impact, and raised and awarded over $2.2 million to programs making a positive difference for Latino students across the country.
Programs That Work for Latino, And All, Students in Higher Education
Click here to download the 2025 Examples of Excelencia program profiles.
Looking to connect with program leaders recognized by Excelencia?
Search the Growing What Works Database (GWW Database) for others positively impacting student outcomes. Excelencia’s GWW Database is the only national, searchable database for institutional leaders, funders, policymakers, and others interested in evidence-based programming for Latino, and all, students.
2025 Examples of Excelencia Announced
After a rigorous review process, four programs are recognized as national exemplars of evidence-based practices that improve student success in higher education. Learn about the 2025 Examples:
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General Motors Automotive Service Education Program (GM ASEP), Cerritos College - Norwalk, CA (Associate Level)
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ÁNDALE Latino Research Training Program, California State University, Long Beach - Long Beach, CA (Baccalaureate Level)
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Crossing Latinidades Humanities Research Initiative, University of Illinois Chicago - Chicago, IL (Graduate Level)
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Avanza RGV, Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA) - Mercedes, TX (CBO Level)
Visit the Growing What Works Database to connect with recognized programs making a positive impact on Latino, and all, students.
Evidence-Based Practices That Work For Latino Students in Higher Education
Advancing What Works to Intentionally Serve Latino Students: Opportunities for Action - 2024 shows what is possible when programs and institutions meet student needs with intentionality. This publication curates 35 programs from over 200 programs in our Growing What Works (GWW) Database that serve Latino student success in asset-based ways.
Expand Your Knowledge about Examples of Excelencia
What works to improve the success of Latino, and all, students in higher education?
Examples of Excelencia is the only national data-driven effort to recognize programs at the associate, baccalaureate, graduate, and community-based organization levels with evidence of effectiveness in accelerating Latino student success, amongst all students.
How can evidence-based programs increase student success?
Excelencia seeks to broaden the scope of knowledge surrounding effective practices for Latino, and all, students and bring attention to the noteworthy work that may be overlooked by traditional best-practices models. Evidence-based practices use data and storytelling to show student success in ways unique to each program— demonstrating what intentionally serving Latino, and all, students looks like at institutions and community-based organizations across the country.
How can I find programs having a positive impact on student success?
Explore and connect with the programs in our Growing What Works Database, a free, online database designed to connect funders, policymakers, and other practitioners to evidence-based programs working for Latino, and all, students. Search today and connect to a program in your state, sector, academic discipline or issue area.
How does Excelencia find programs intentionally SERVING Latino, and all, students?
Annually Excelencia seeks out programs for Examples of Excelencia through a rigorous review of profile submissions that look at intentionality and positive impact in serving Latino, and all, students in higher education. The process launches with a national call for nominations and culminates in a public celebration of recognized programs at Celebración de Excelencia. To learn more about the process, visit our Examples of Excelencia submission portal.
How do I get started with Examples of Excelencia?
Ready to share your program’s story with a national audience for the 2026 Examples of Excelencia? Reach out to the Institutional Practices team today to learn more about capacity-building opportunities for practitioners.