Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority on efforts accelerating Latino student success in higher education, announced September 9 that Catch the Next was selected as a national finalist for the 2021 Examples of Excelencia.

Examples of Excelencia was created in 2005 and is the country’s only national effort to identify, aggregate and promote evidence-based practices improving Latino student success in higher education. Even in these challenging times, it is a powerful reminder that there are many in our community working diligently to intentionally serve our students.

 “Examples of Excelencia identifies evidence-based programs that show, with intentionality and impact, what it means to truly serve Latino students and not just enroll them,” said Deborah Santiago, Co-founder and CEO, Excelencia in Education.

This year, Excelencia received 145 program submissions representing 23 states and Puerto Rico. The 21 finalists will be featured online as well as in Excelencia’s Growing What Works Database – the only national online, searchable database for institutional leaders, funders, and policymakers interested in identifying what works for Latino students.

On October 28, 2021, four of the 21 finalists will be announced as the 2021 Examples of Excelencia and recognized at the annual Celebración de Excelencia. The national announcement of the four programs will be held virtually at the online Celebración de Excelencia.