News
“AWC opened doors I felt were impossible to enter:” Students and staff celebrate Seal of Excelencia certification
November 12, 2026Yuma, Ariz. (November 12, 2026) – Arizona Western College students, faculty, and staff came together to celebrate the college earning the Seal of Excelencia.
AWC is now one of 55 institutions in the nation to receive the prestigious certification, which represents a commitment to serving Latino and all students.
“The Seal belongs to our faculty, our staff, our community, but mostly it belongs to our students,” said Dr. Reetika Dhawan, AWC President. “As an immigrant, I know firsthand how education can change lives. Even though talent is everywhere, opportunities are not always equal. We want to open those doors for our students; the Seal is proof of that mission.”
Melanie Ruiz López shared about her experience at AWC as a first-generation and migrant student.
“If it wasn’t for AWC and the opportunities they create for students like me, I wouldn’t be here today,” López said. “AWC opened doors I felt were impossible to enter, and my CAMP [or RISE] advisors made me feel that being a first-generation Hispanic student was my greatest strength.”
Application for the Seal was a collaborative effort from faculty and staff across the district. In the end, nearly 40 people contributed to the final 37-page report, from pulling and analyzing data to writing and proofreading.
During the event, members of the AWC Seal committee highlighted the programs and practices that were referenced in the application, listing services like AWC's state-of-the-art Transfer Center, TRIO and RISE programs, and partnership with the Mexican Consulate, as well as lowered costs of educational resources and small class sizes.
“The Seal of Excelencia is made real in hundreds of classrooms every single day across our district,” said History and Sociology Professor Dr. Monica Ketchum-Cárdenas. “Professors are forming relationships, practicing culturally responsive teaching, and believing in every student’s potential. When we have faculty that are out there creating experiences that tap into our students’ experiences, that makes all the difference.”
In 2025, AWC established the concept of Excelencia as a pillar in the institution’s strategic plan, regularly reviewing disaggregated data to reduce access gaps among Latino, first-generation, rural, and low-income students. As a result, AWC has expanded bilingual outreach, dual enrollment pathways, flexible scheduling, emergency assistance, and stronger student support services for students.
Seal certification represents this intentional work and serves as a promise to current and future students of the college’s commitment to their future success.
Because the Seal of Excelencia is a three-year certification, AWC will apply for recertification status in 2029 to demonstrate continuous improvement toward supporting Latino and all students.
Caption information: Students and staff made tissue paper flowers for an interactive display centered around a hand painted poster from San Luis artist and adjunct AWC art professor Violeta Isaacs. The sign says "Unidos Florecemos; United We Bloom." Here, students gather with AWC President Dr. Reetika Dhawan in front of the display to present the framed Seal of Excelencia.
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About Arizona Western College
Arizona Western College serves Yuma and La Paz counties by offering more than 170 degree and certificate programs, workforce training, and community education opportunities. With 12 different locations and a service area that spans 10,000 square miles, AWC is also exceptionally unique in that it hosts all three state universities on its main campus for face-to-face classes. Committed to transforming lives and creating thriving communities. AWC is committed to doubling the rate of baccalaureate degrees earned in Yuma and La Paz counties by 2035 and is dedicated to its mission of transforming lives through education and partnerships to create thriving communities.
About Excelencia in Education
Excelencia in Education leads a national network of results-oriented educators and policymakers transforming higher education to tap the talents of the Latino community and address the U.S. economy’s needs for a highly educated workforce and engaged civic leaders. With this network, Excelencia ensures access to excellence by promoting student achievement, informing educational policies, and advancing evidence-based practices to more intentionally serve Latino, and all, students. For more information, visit: EdExcelencia.org.
Contact:
Lorraine Stofft
Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the AWC Foundation
Arizona Western College
lorraine.stofft@azwestern.edu
(928) 314-9595