College Match Named ‘Examples of Excelencia’ Finalist

College Match staff will travel to D.C. next month as one of 20 organizations from throughout the country being recognized for their exemplary commitment to helping Latino students succeed. The Washington D.C.-based Excelencia in Education selected College Match from among 190 nominations from 33 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico as a finalist for its Examples of Excelencia honor.

College Match, which started with Community Partners in 2002, serves high-achieving students in 19 Los Angeles inner-city public schools through two years of college admissions guidance, including SAT prep classes, college visits,  and help with financial aid forms. This year, eight of their graduates have received Gates Millennium Scholarships, which will pay for their undergraduate and graduate studies in full, 75 percent were admitted to a top 25 college or university and 98 percent were admitted to a top 50 college or university.

Excelencia in Education works to accelerate Latino student success by promoting initiatives and programs that assist them in succeeding in higher education. Excelencia in Education also collects the data-driven analysis of the educational status of Latinos in order to reinforce the effectiveness of these programs and the value of fostering Latinos in education.