Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA) has been nationally recognized by Excelencia in Education for its program Avanza RGV: Accelerating Latino Prosperity through Education & Career Pathways, earning the title of 2025 Example of Excelencia at the Community-Based Organization level.
Excelencia in Education, the nation’s leading authority on accelerating Latino student success, selected VIDA’s Avanza RGV as one of only four programs nationwide to receive this distinction. The recognition honors programs with measurable, evidence-based outcomes that advance Latino achievement in education and career development.
VIDA’s Avanza RGV program exemplifies a holistic, worker-centered model that equips Latino and underserved residents of the Rio Grande Valley with the education, resources, and career pathways needed to achieve lasting economic prosperity. The program integrates academic and workforce training with wraparound support services, ensuring that participants not only complete their programs but also secure stable, high-wage employment.
Founded in 1995, VIDA was created to address high unemployment and workforce skill shortages in the region. Through comprehensive support, including skills assessments, academic advising, financial assistance, career counseling, and job placement, VIDA provides a structured pathway from enrollment to employment. Graduates receive individualized follow-up for up to three years after completing their training to promote long-term success.
In 2025, VIDA served 879 students with an impressive 98% persistence rate. More than 80% were first-generation college students, and over half were parents balancing their education with family responsibilities. These outcomes reflect VIDA’s deep commitment to helping nontraditional learners overcome barriers to higher education and achieve financial stability through high-skill, high-demand careers.
“Being named a 2025 Example of Excelencia is a tremendous honor,” said Felida Villarreal, President and CEO of VIDA. “This recognition validates our holistic approach that combines wraparound support services with innovative educational and career pathways. We remain committed to empowering underserved Latino communities by removing barriers to higher education and connecting them to sustainable, family-supporting careers.”
The 2025 Examples of Excelencia honorees were announced during Celebración de Excelencia, part of Excelencia’s annual Fall Convening in Washington, D.C. The event brings together national leaders in higher education, philanthropy, policy, and business to celebrate programs that are transforming Latino student success. VIDA joins other 2025 honorees, including initiatives from Cerritos College, California State University Long Beach, and the University of Illinois Chicago.
All finalist programs will be featured in Excelencia’s Growing What Works Database, the nation’s only searchable resource of evidence-based practices that improve higher education outcomes for Latino and underserved students.
To see the full list of the 2025 Examples of Excelencia finalists, visit: EdExcelencia.org/what-works-examples-excelencia/examples-excelencia-finalists.
