PROVIDENCE, R.I., (Oct. 12, 2018) – The College Crusade of Rhode Island was honored on Oct. 11 in Washington, D.C., by Excelencia in Education with a 2018 Examples of Excelencia award. The award is presented to programs that have shown evidence-based results in improving Latino student success in higher education.

Examples of Excelencia, sponsored annually by Excelencia in Education, is the only national initiative that recognizes and celebrates programs at the forefront of advancing educational achievement for Latino students.

This year 139 programs from 27 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico were nominated for an award, and four were chosen. Excelencia in Education made the announcement at its annual Celebración de Excelencia event, held at the historic Mayflower Hotel. The audience included higher education leaders, decision makers, and grant makers from across the country.

“It is a privilege to accept this award on behalf of our dedicated students and their families,” said Andrew Bramson, president and CEO of The College Crusade. “The young people in our program work hard over many years to achieve their goals and often confront multiple obstacles on their way to postsecondary success. Our role is to help them learn to overcome these challenges. Our program supports them every step of the way – from middle school through high school and into college. Both the data we see and the stories we hear from our students tell us our support makes a difference in their lives, and we are proud to congratulate them for their accomplishments.”

“I’m proud to congratulate The College Crusade on having its great work recognized by Excelencia in Education,” said Brenda Dann-Messier, Rhode Island’s commissioner of postsecondary education and a College Crusade board member. “The College Crusade is an important partner in our work to increase postsecondary attainment in Rhode Island. The college-readiness programming and advising they provide help thousands of our state’s first-generation students, especially Latino students, prepare for higher education.”

As a recognized Example of Excelencia, The College Crusade is profiled in Excelencia in Education’s 2018 edition of “What Works For Latino Students in Higher Education” compendium and is featured in their “Growing What Works Database,” the nation’s largest database providing tactical information about how to improve Latino student success. More information about the 2018 awards is available in Excelencia‘s announcement.

The mission of The College Crusade is to increase high school graduation, college and career readiness, and college completion for youth in Rhode Island’s low-income communities. For more information, visit www.thecollegecrusade.org.