Excelencia in Education Congratulates Finalists for 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence

WASHINGTON, DC — The Aspen Institute has announced that two community colleges previously recognized through the Examples of Excelencia initiative have been selected as finalists for the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

The two Texas schools, El Paso Community College, the 2011 Example of Excelencia in the Associate category for its Early College High School Initiative, and Brazosport College in Jackson, TX, a 2011 Finalist in the Associate category for its Learning Frameworks Program, could be chosen as the grand prize winner or one of the four finalists-with-distinction by the Washington-based Aspen Institute in March of 2015.

In response, Sarita Brown, president of Excelencia in Education, and Deborah Santiago, chief operating officer and vice president for policy of Excelencia in Education, released the following statement:

“Today we congratulate all 10 Aspen Prize finalists, and especially want to recognize Brazosport College and El Paso Community College for their incredible work improving Latino student success.  In 2011, we identified and recognized Brazosport College as a Finalist and El Paso Community College as an Example of Excelencia for programs with clear evidence of helping Latino students prepare and succeed in higher education.  We are thrilled to see these two effective community colleges sustaining their work to improve educational outcomes for Latino students and all students.

“Every year, Excelencia in Education selects Examples of Excelencia, programs that, emerge from a national search and rigorous review process as significant for their impact on Latino student success.  Like the Aspen Institute, Excelencia in Education believes that, by sharing what has worked for other institutions, we can inform, inspire and equip decision makers to accelerate Latino student success.”

Conceived and run by Excelencia in Education, Examples of Excelencia is the only national initiative to systematically identify, recognize, and catalogue evidence-based programs that improve Latino college success.

Excelencia in Education is a Washington, DC-based national nonprofit organization whose mission is to accelerate Latino student success in higher education. For more information, visit www.EdExcelencia.org.

Featured

  • University of Kentucky Receives $150M Gift Toward New Arts District

    The University of Kentucky’s Board of Trustees recently received a $150-million gift from The Bill Gatton Foundation, according to a university news release, to build a new arts district on the campus in Lexington, Ky. The new district will feature a new College of Fine Arts building and a multi-hundred-seat theater, among other amenities.

  • LSU Breaks Ground on $200M Residential Project

    Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., recently broke ground on a new residential complex, according to university news. The South Quad residential project will consist of two buildings and add a total of 1,266 beds for freshmen students. The development comes with a price tag of $200 million, and it’s scheduled to open to students in fall 2027.

  • Armstrong World Industries Acquires Geometrik

    Armstrong World Industries, designer and manufacturer of interior and exterior architectural applications like ceilings, walls, and metal solutions, recently announced its acquisition of Canada-based Geometrik, according to a news release. The British Columbian Geometrik specializes in designing and manufacturing wood acoustical and wall systems.

  • DLR Group Appoints New K–12 Education Practice Leader

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has named its new global K–12 Education leader, Senior Principal Carmen Wyckoff, AIA, LEED AP, according to a news release. Her teams have members in all 36 of the firm’s offices in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Europe, and Asia.

Digital Edition