College Success Program is One of 12 Finalists Nationwide for the 2025 Examples of Excelencia
Contact: media@leafca.org
Excelencia in Education Recognizes Latino Education Advancement Foundation’s College Success Program for Making a Positive Impact on Student Success
San José, CA (August 6, 2025) – Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority on efforts to advance Latino talent and strengthen the nation’s workforce and civic leadership, announced that the Latino Education Advancement Foundation’s (LEAF) College Success Program is a finalist for the 2025 Examples of Excelencia. This national, data-driven effort is the only one of its kind that recognizes programs with evidence of effectiveness in improving Latino, and all, student success in higher education.
The College Success Program empowers first-generation Latinx students from East San José to enroll, persist, and graduate from college through a combination of scholarships, culturally responsive mentorship, and targeted advising on financial aid, academics, wellness, and transfer planning. In 2024–25, 81% of LEAF Scholars successfully enrolled in their second year of college, and 94% reported strong, impactful relationships with their mentors.
Being named a finalist underscores LEAF’s role as a trusted leader in advancing educational equity for first-generation students in East San José. It highlights the organization’s intentional approach, rooted in culturally responsive support and community partnership, that ensures students have both the resources and the confidence to achieve their college and career goals.
Since 2005, Excelencia has received more than 2,500 program submissions, recognized over 400 programs for their proven impact, and raised and awarded over $2.2 million to programs making a positive difference for students across the nation. This year’s finalists were recognized from submissions representing 13 states and the District of Columbia, and span four levels: associate, baccalaureate, graduate, and community-based organizations. The College Success Program and the other finalists represent the innovative and impactful work happening across higher education institutions and organizations committed to expanding access to a quality college education for all students.
Programmatic details about all the finalists will be featured in Excelencia’s Growing What Works Database, the nation's only online and searchable database designed for institutional leaders, funders, policymakers, and others seeking evidence-based practices that improve opportunities and outcomes for Latino, and all, students in higher education.
To see the full list of the 2025 Examples of Excelencia finalists, visit: EdExcelencia.org/what-works-examples-excelencia/examples-excelencia-finalists.
About Excelencia in Education
Excelencia in Education leads a national network of results-oriented educators and policymakers transforming higher education to tap the talents of the Latino community and address the U.S. economy’s needs for a highly educated workforce and engaged civic leaders. With this network, Excelencia ensures access to excellence by promoting student achievement, informing educational policies, and advancing evidence-based practices to more intentionally serve Latino, and all, students. For more information, visit: EdExcelencia.org
