Portland Community College's College Access Latinx Initiative earned a national award for its work helping Latine students graduate at the Rock Creek campus near Bethany.
Excelencia in Education named CALI one of three programs nationwide to receive the 2026 Examples of Excelencia honor, PCC announced Nov. 2. The program won in the Student Support category.
CALI had been a finalist for the same recognition in 2025. The 2026 award follows that finalist nod.
What CALI does
Launched in 2022, CALI is a cohort-based program that supports Latine students, including those who identify as Indigenous, first-generation, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and students with mixed immigration status. It combines bilingual family engagement, advising, emergency resources, academic planning and peer mentoring.
The program starts with outreach to high school students and continues through enrollment, coursework, graduation and leadership development, according to PCC.
Since its launch, CALI has served 122 students. Thirty participated during the 2024–25 academic year.
The numbers behind the award
The program reports an average graduation rate of 92%. Over three years, CALI students completed 78% of their attempted credits, compared with 69% among Latine PCC students outside the program, according to PCC. First-year retention hit 100% for the program's first two cohorts, compared with 52.6% for Latine students who did not participate.
Former participants return as paid peer mentors, guiding newer students through financial aid, registration and college life.
Efraín Rivas-Flores, dean of College Access Programs at PCC, said the recognition "affirms the hard work of our students, staff, families and community partners, and shows what is possible when colleges intentionally design services around students' lived experiences."
A national distinction
Excelencia in Education describes Examples of Excelencia as the nation's only effort dedicated to identifying and promoting evidence-based programs that improve success for Latino and all students in higher education. Over more than two decades, the organization has reviewed more than 2,500 program submissions and recognized over 400 programs.
The other two 2026 winners are the Spanish for Global Health and Human Services program and the Bridge-to-Math Doctorate Program, both at the University of Texas at Arlington.
As a winner, CALI joins Excelencia's Community of Practice for What Works, a national network of leaders from more than 120 previously recognized programs.
Ties to PCC's HSI push
The award comes as PCC pursues federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). The college reached the 25% Latine undergraduate enrollment threshold this fall, with 32.1% of new credit students identifying as Latine, according to PCC. Latine student enrollment grew by over 33% from 2021 to 2025.
Liz Mota, PCC's DREAMers and Latine Student Success coordinator, said in October that the program shows what happens when support matches students' experiences. "We have seen students go from being the first in their families to navigate college to becoming paid peer mentors who now help the next generation find their own path forward," Mota said.
