Matthew Medeiros

Barrio Logan College Institute

Barrio Logan College Institute (BLCI) is a nonprofit organization that prepares underserved students to be the first in their families to go to college through after school programs that begin in third grade. In Barrio Logan, the community served, only one in three adults has a high school diploma and less than 3% have a bachelor's degree. In contrast, BLCI has a 100% success rate of sending graduates to college and a 90% rate of keeping them there until graduation. BLCI is unique in that it starts early, continues to support students through college, works closely with parents, and incorporates leadership skills and civic engagement within the college-prep curriculum. In 2016, BLCI won the national Example of Excelencia Award in the Community Based Organization category by Excelencia in Education, making it a model program for the nation to follow.