Excelencia in Education Honors Its 2017

Examples of Excelencia

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Excelencia in Education announced its 2017 Examples of Excelencia, spotlighting four programs that have shown outstanding, evidence-based results of improving Latino student success in higher education. Examples of Excelencia is the only national initiative recognizing and celebrating programs at the forefront of advancing educational achievement for Latino students. Excelencia in Education made the announcement at its annual Celebración de Excelencia held at the Mayflower Hotel. Leaders, decision-makers and grant makers from across the country attended the event.

“While angry voices attempt to minimize Latinos’ contributions to our nation, Excelencia in Education brings national recognition and celebrates our contributions,” said Sarita Brown, the president of Excelencia in Education. “We celebrate each program’s initiative and recognize their success. We are mindful that each helps prepare Latino students to make their own unique and timely contributions to the fabric of our nation and that their contributions and voices will help forge a stronger, more united, more vibrant nation.”

Programs recognized as the 2017 Examples of Excelencia in four categories are:

Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP), Bronx Community College, Bronx, New York (Associate)—This pathways-based program with over 1,200 Latino students participating, has increased its students’ semester-to-semester retention rates to 93 percent while maintaining a 54 percent three-year completion rate among enrolled students compared to a three-year graduation rate of 18 percent among the rest of the student body.

Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Leadership (BASOL), South Texas College, McAllen, Texas (Baccalaureate)—This accelerated competency-based learning program allows for 87 percent of their students to graduate in three years and helps increase skills in the workforce. Of those in the program, about 92 percent are Latino. 

Preparing Undergraduates through Mentoring towards Ph.D.s (PUMP), California State University – Northridge, California (Graduate)—This program helps increase the number of Latino students enrolling in science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduate programs. Since 2014, 31 Latino students have entered a master’s program, and 18 have entered a Ph.D. program since 2014.

Waukegan to College (W2C), Waukegan, Illinois (Community-Based Organization)—This community-based organization has used parental support, intensive academic support and community involvement to help its 135 Latino students persist toward a college degree.    100 percent of student participants matriculate into college.

This year, the Examples of Excelencia were selected from among more than 160 nominations, nominated from 25 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Profiles of each program are published in the 2017 “What Works For Latino Students in Higher Education” compendium, and as part of the “Growing What Works Database,” the nation’s largest database providing tactical information about how to accelerate Latino degree completion.

Celebración de Excelencia is presented in collaboration with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Sponsors of the 2017 Examples of Excelencia program are: ACT, Ford Motor Company, Pearson Education, Phi Theta Kappa and Strada Education Network. •

Source Excelencia in Education