Celebrate excellence this Latinx Heritage Month

Dancers at a Latinx Heritage celebration Published September 11, 2026

Latinx student success continues to grow at College of Lake County (CLC). This Latinx Heritage Month, Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, CLC is celebrating the progress made by Latinx students, whose rising graduation rates are one measure of a much bigger story of academic achievement.

According to Excelencia in Education, CLC has the highest percentage of Latinx students among two- and four-year colleges in Illinois, at 47%. CLC also has the highest percentage of undergraduate completions earned by Latinx students, at 36%. Retention and graduation rates among Latinx students also have climbed in recent years.

The progress comes as CLC has become more intentional about what it means not only to be designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), but to “serve.”

A Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) is a federally designated college or university where at least 25% of undergraduate students are Latinx. CLC has held this designation since 2015-16. Today, about half of CLC students identify as Latinx.

“We've had the student population, but we needed that action to really fulfill that serving part of HSI,” said Director of Student Success Strategy Dr. Cynthia Padilla. “The Excelencia in Education data provides evidence that CLC is doing the work that we need to be doing to make progress and fulfill our mission.”

HSIs play a role in serving students and the CLC communities by ensuring equitable access and success, being a future-ready organization and contributing to community vibrancy.

As CLC began integrating racial equity into its broader student success strategy, the college leveraged the Latinx Outreach and Success Committee to identify ways to improve student success. CLC self-assessed in partnership with Excelencia in Education to examine student outcomes and identify strengths and opportunities for improvement.

“The past two years have been about the commitment to providing personnel and financial resources and having the HSI work be included in college priorities,” Padilla said. “I think those two together help students and employees know there is value and an institutional commitment to this work.”

The work has become more visible through branding on campus. Along with the college creating its own HSI logo, the HSI work at CLC can be described through the acronym ¡SOMOS CLC! - “We Are CLC” - which also stands for:

  • Sembrar semillas con Orgullo cultural. Motivar hacia el éxito con Oportunidades, Servicio, y solidaridad por qué SOMOS, ¡El Colegio que Lanza Campeones! (Planting seeds with cultural pride. Motivating success through opportunities, service, and solidarity because we are the College that Launches Champions!)

Creating an identity helps promote belonging and awareness of the college's HSI identity. CLC is also working to reduce language barriers by expanding Spanish-language information through more translations and offering Spanish-language programs in early childhood education and automotive technology.

“As an HSI, CLC is called to critically reflect on our institutional practices and the experiences and success of Latinx students,” Padilla said. “Using the college’s diversity, equity and inclusion statements and student success definition means examining institutional performance and identifying institutional equity gaps to inform college decisions, policies and practices. In doing so, we create the environment for every student to thrive.”

Latinx Heritage Month events open to the public include:

  • Thru Oct. 15, see Patibulario Art, an environmental art project by Mexican sculptor Emanuel Zarate Ortiz who transforms recycled materials and cardboard into monumental wildlife and cultural sculptures at James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts (JLC), Southlake and Lakeshore Campuses.
  • Run (or walk) in the Carrera de los Lancers 5K 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 4 at Grayslake Gym F Building. This event is free for CLC students and $30 for adults, $10 for kids.
  • Buy tickets to see Sugar Skull! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure 3 p.m. Oct. 18 at JLC. Tickets are available online.
  • Enjoy the music of Mariachi Herencia de México, 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at JLC. Tickets are available online.