Latino U College Access (LUCA) is a nonprofit organization that transforms lives by making college dreams a reality for students who are the first in their families to attend college. LUCA guides low-income Latino youth through individualized coaching and culturally relevant programming as they navigate higher education to successfully enroll in schools that meet their financial and academic needs, enabling them to graduate on time and career ready with little to no debt.

Higher education privileges those with a parent who can prepare them for the experience. As a result, first-generation, low-income students struggle to compete. The cost and complexity of admission often deter Latino students from applying. Then, once in college, they struggle to persist. Latino youth are culturally rich, motivated, hardworking, and resourceful. They are determined to honor their families’ sacrifices and create a brighter future for their loved ones. Providing them with access to higher education is critical. Not only do college graduates have greater career opportunities, but they also earn substantially more over their lifetimes. However, the benefits of higher education go beyond economic gains. A college degree reduces unemployment, a healthier lifestyle, lower health care costs, and increased civic engagement. To put it simply, education changes everything.

LUCA was founded by Shirley Acevedo Buontempo. As a first-generation Latina college graduate, Shirley is a testament to the transformative power of education. After a successful career in marketing, she was inspired by the Latino families she served at a local nonprofit organization to create an organization that would address educational inequity and provide access to higher education for students and families. In 2012, she officially launched Latino U College Access by delivering Spanish language presentations at a local library and piloting the Latino U Scholars program with only two students, from her home.

Today, LUCA has expanded its reach to nearly 6,000 students and parents through community programming. The organization also recruits and trains a cohort of volunteer College Coaches who provide intensive, individualized mentorship throughout the college admissions process. The Latino U Scholars program has grown from a small pilot into an intensive, six-year program that serves nearly 300 first-generation Latino students.

It begins in junior year of high school when students at partner school districts are nominated by their School Counselors. Scholars are then paired with volunteer College Coaches or LUCA staff members who guide them every step of the way through their college admissions journey. In addition, LUCA supports families as they submit critical financial aid forms and make college decisions, ensuring the best academic and financial fit. During the 2020-2021 academic year, the median out-of-pocket cost for Scholar families was less than $4,000 per year at some top colleges and universities nationwide. Once enrolled, ongoing support is provided through graduation, and programming shifts to focus on college success, career readiness, and financial literacy.

“Latino U College Access is committed to providing consistent support and guidance to our Scholars on their journeys to and through college and into thriving careers. We work tirelessly to change the narrative of educational and social inequity in America. We believe in all of our students, empowering Scholars to reach higher than they ever imagined possible.” - Cosette Gutierrez, Executive Director

LUCA’s approach is innovative because it is one of the only college access and success organizations specifically focused on Latino students who have demonstrated academic aptitude. Latino U Scholars are future leaders, and LUCA envisions a world where they have equitable access to opportunities that meet their incredible potential. Latinos are the nation's youngest and fastest-growing demographic; they will account for one out of every two new employees entering the workforce by 2025. The Latino U Scholars program ensures that academically talented, low-income students enroll and succeed at schools that will open doors to positions of influence, where they can be representatives of and advocates for the Latino community in spaces where they have not been seen or heard before.

Focusing on the cultural identity of the Scholar empowers LUCA to establish trust, build community, and maintain an enduring network of support. The organization’s metrics defy the national statistics for Latino student success because of its ongoing, family-centered, culturally relevant approach. To date, 99% of Latino U Scholars are on track to be the first in their families to graduate from college - 64% from 4-year private universities across the country.

If you’re Latino and first-generation to college, then you bring the dreams of your entire family with you onto campus - LUCA knows this because their team is composed of first-generation Latinas who shared that journey. When Latino U Scholars cry reading their acceptance letters from top institutions, those tears of joy are not just in celebration of a milestone moment; they symbolize the fulfillment of a family dream and that all the sacrifices, extra shifts, and late nights were worth it. •

Author Bio: Cosette Gutierrez became Executive Director of Latino U College Access in 2021. She is a dynamic executive with corporate and nonprofit experience leading high performing teams. A proud first-generation college graduate, Cosette earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and an MBA from Indiana University.