Two City Colleges Programs Recognized by Excelencia in Education for Proven, Positive Impact on Latino Students in Higher Education

The Community Health Worker program at Richard J. Daley College’s Arturo Velasquez Institute and the Engineering program at Wilbur Wright College Are Among 19 Finalists Across the Country for the Examples of Excelencia

Excelencia in Education has named the Community Health Worker program at Arturo Velasquez Institute, Richard J. Daley College’s satellite site, and the Engineering program at Wilbur Wright College as finalists for the 2023 Examples of Excelencia, recognizing the program’s intentionality in serving Latinx students through culturally relevant, evidence-based practices. These two programs are among 19 Examples of Excelencia finalists across the country.

Examples of Excelencia is the only national effort to identify, aggregate, and promote evidence-based practices accelerating Latinx student success in higher education. These two recognized City Colleges programs demonstrate intentionality and impact in improving degree outcomes for Latino and other post-traditional students.

“We bring national attention to the Examples of Excelencia finalists because they show what is possible when serving Latinx students in their higher education journeys,” said Adriana Rodriguez, Vice President for Programs at Excelencia in Education. “Beyond enrollment, these programs implement replicable practices that answer questions of how best to reach Latinx students and support them to and through college in today’s landscape.

Both the Community Health Worker and Engineering programs were selected through a robust review process of 103 program submissions representing higher education institutions and community organizations across 20 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico in four
categories: associate, baccalaureate, graduate, and community-based organizations. Since 2005,
Excelencia has received over 2,000 program submissions, recognized over 400 programs for their impact, and raised and awarded over $2 million to the programs making a difference for Latino students to sustain their work.

All finalist programs will be featured online in Excelencia’s Growing What Works Database—the only national, searchable database for institutional leaders, funders, policymakers, and others interested in effective programs for Latino students.

To see the full list of the 2023 Examples of Excelencia finalists visit: Examples of Excelencia Finalists | Excelencia in Education (edexcelencia.org).