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
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!
Summer Symposium 2019
Anyone is welcome to attend the event, a light lunch will be provided. We hope to see you there!
Recent News
Welcome Cohort 12! We are so excited to work with and see what the 2019-2020 Excel! Scholars will accomplish. Come see the students present their summer research at the Symposium on August 1st, 2019.
Sameera Taylor, Tamu Lajebo, Austina Lee, Jane Ude, Amaris Holguin, Marcus Nordquist, Jade Tutewohl, and La'Daija Deloney.
We March for Justice
The 2019 We March for Justice Study Tour was featured in the Canton News with civil rights footsoldier, Flonzie Brown Wright. Read the article 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.
Linda Nzabamwita
Linda, a 2018-2019 Excel! Scholar and 2019 graduate, is a MPH candidate at the University of Washington, Seattle, fully funded.
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