Check out more program statistics below the Message from our Director here.
Aspire to make a difference. Excel and make change.
The Excel! Mission
Helping the historically underrepresented be represented in graduate school.
Vision
To educate through teaching and learning, to motivate through critical dialogue and success, to embrace opportunities that take us to the next levels, developing future scholars as leaders….inspiring one scholar at a time!
About the Program
The Excel! Research Scholars Program is designed to prepare undergraduate students for graduate school admission, the rigors of graduate studies, and to be competitive for graduate school funding through involvement in research and other scholarly activities starting in the summer through to the students graduation date at the University of St. Thomas.
Program Goal
The goal of the Excel! Research Scholars Program is to increase graduate degree awards for students from underrepresented segments of society.
Excel! Targets
Excel! admits students who are first-generation college students, students with demonstrated high financial need as defined by the federal government, or members of a group that is traditionally underrepresented in graduate education and have demonstrated strong academic potential.
We invite you to explore our website and learn more about how Excel! can help you. If you want to know more, you are encouraged to set up a meeting with the director, Cynthia Fraction, at frac2792@stthomas.edu. She will be happy to meet with you!
Recent News
Applications
Coming soon! Applications for Cohort 13 will launch fall 2019, continue to check the website for updates.
Congratulations Cohort 12!
Congratulations Cohort 12 on completing the Summer Research Institute and Research Symposium. Thank you to all those who came out and supported the scholars at the symposium this year on August 1st, 2019.
Back Row L to R: Jade Tutewohl, Tamu Lajebo, Marcus Nordquist, Jane Ude; Front Row L to R: Austina Lee, Amaris Holguin, La'Daija Deloney, Sameera Taylor
Book Drive
This summer the Excel! Reads Program hosted a book drive initiated by Excel! Scholar Dustyn Montgomery and the program. Thank you to the Cohort 12 scholars and all those who donated books to this years book drive. 2,700 books were collected! Books will be donated to the Salvation Army to be sent to Africa and to the East Side Freedom Library in Minneapolis.
Linda Nzabamwita
Linda, a 2018-2019 Excel! Scholar and 2019 graduate, is a MPH candidate at the University of Washington, Seattle, fully funded. She will begin there fall 2019. This summer Linda has been doing an internship in Rwanda with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) in the Nutrition Program. The internship is doing a program evaluation for a Fortified Branded Food program that is provided to mothers and young children in efforts to reduce stunting in children. She has been traveling throughout Rwanda with others speaking to people about the program and how it can be improved.
Welcoming Dr. White
We are happy to welcome Dr. Sheneeta White, the new Associate Vice Provost for St. Thomas, to the Excel! Research Scholars Program. The Excel! Program will now report to her.
Remembering David Steele
Please remember in your prayers David Steele, PhD, 61, who passed away June 2019. David served as the Director of the Faculty Grants Office from 2002 to 2016 at St. Thomas and also taught as an adjunct in the history department. Read the Newsroom announcement here.
Excel! Research Scholars Live Out Hopes and Dreams
The Excel! Program and Director, Cynthia Fraction, were featured spring 2019 in the St. Thomas Newsroom. Read the article here.
Abby Heller
Abby Heller, a 2018-2019 Excel! Scholar and 2019 graduate, was the undergraduate commencement speaker this year.
Xavier Adbullahi
Xavier Abdullahi, a 2018-2019 Excel! Fellow, graduted spring 2019 with the inaugural class from the Dougherty Family College. He will now be attending St. Thomas fully funded and is working with the Excel! program to mentor future scholars.
Erin Robb
Erin Robb, a 2018-2019 scholar, is doing a Summer Research Opportuniy Program with the University of Nevada, Reno summer 2019. She presented past research at the State Capitol in February 2019.
Marissa Abara and Bontu Gemeda
Current scholars, Marissa Abara and Bontu Gemeda, both have internships with the Rondo Community in St. Paul fall 2018.
2018 Newsletter
Click to read the 2018 Excel! Research Scholars newsletter.
Testimonies
"Because of Excel, and because I was convinced that I can do something above average, something exceptional, I now see myself as a scholar. I would highly recommend this program to any undergraduate students who strive to see themselves that way."
Jonathan Santos "17
"Your (Ms. Cynthia) passion and commitment to serve us as students has inspired me to bring positive change for the future. Furthermore, I really appreciate your openess, confidence, and flexibility in assisting me to learn more about my role as a scholar. This experience was more than I could have imagined!"
Mai Eng Lee '12
"The information that I learned from Excel such as how to write a research paper, how to do an oral presentation, and how to make a poster helped me well for this summer (summer 2016). I would not be able to write a research paper, give a professional oral presentation, and construct a poster well without training from Excel! In addition, short training such as to be on time, how to connect with your mentor, how to do informational interviews with your mentor and other faculty, and time management have helped me. I want to say THANK YOU for everything that you have done for me and for pushing me to work hard. Thank you so much Miss. Cynthia."
Trinh Ha '17
"She (Ashley Demaio '18) gained confidnece in her ability to do the research. She sid a fabulous job learning how to find the resources and to find really good resorces to use. ...She became less of an observer and more of an active participant. She really was the researcher. That's the whole goal of this program.
Dr. Sara Hankerson
It's really opened my eyes to the differnet opportunities I have in my time here at St. Thomas. You know there are people fighting for you and rooting for you. Even in times where the research is tough, you know there are people that are supporting you and that good things will come out of it. Deep down they care not only about your research, but about you as a person and what you care about, which I think is super important. People get wrapped up in some things and it's more about what they're doing than who they are as a person; with the Excel! program they deeply care about you as an individual alongside your research."
Dustyn Montgomery '20