The recognition comes at a critical time when Latino students represent the fastest-growing demographic in higher education, yet continue to face significant barriers to degree completion. These students often follow non-traditional pathways, juggling academic pursuits with work and family obligations that require institutions to rethink conventional support structures.
"Excelencia promotes what works for Latino, and all, students nationally because of our commitment to excellence in higher education that results in student success," said Deborah Santiago, co-founder and CEO of Excelencia in Education. "The programs recognized as finalists this year are meeting the moment and ensuring access to quality education."
This year's finalists span four educational levels and represent institutions across 13 states and the District of Columbia. The programs demonstrate what Santiago calls an "intentional commitment" to supporting post-traditional students through evidence-based practices that address the unique challenges many Latino students face.
The recognized approaches include bridge programs that smooth transitions between educational levels, comprehensive counseling and advising services, bilingual family engagement initiatives, and targeted mentoring programs designed to prepare students for workforce entry upon graduation.
At the associate level, finalists include GM ASEP at Cerritos College in California and the College Access Latinx Initiative at Portland Community College in Oregon. Baccalaureate-level recognition went to Aurora University's Algebra Recitation Program in Illinois and California State University, Long Beach's ÁNDALE Latino Research Training Program.
Graduate-level finalists represent diverse academic fields, from the University of Illinois Chicago's Crossing Latinidades Humanities Research Initiative to the University of Arizona's LAWtina program and the University of Texas at Arlington's Bridge-to-Math-Doctorate Program.
