New Kaplan Scholars Target 93% Degree Rate Amid Low Community College Transfer Numbers
Twelve students from New York and New Jersey join the program, which reports a far higher bachelor's degree completion rate than the national average for community college attendees.
By Natalia Costa ·
The Kaplan Educational Foundation has named 12 new scholars for the 2026-2027 academic year, adding to a roster that boasts a 93% bachelor's degree attainment rate. This figure stands in sharp contrast to national data indicating that only 16% of community college students earn a four-year degree. For low-income students, that national average drops to 11%.
The newly selected cohort includes Daelani Quezada from Westchester Community College and Alan Grisales from Hudson County Community College. Alexis Silveira-Plaza, Briseyda Rios, Valeriia Gordienko, Vasya Turchin, and Mekhi Patterson all attend the Borough of Manhattan Community College. The group also features Arielle Blair from LaGuardia Community College, Carlyne Torres from Kingsborough Community College, and Arrin Shepp from Bronx Community College. Leandro Batista joins the program from UCNJ Union College of Union County, while Nicolas Neillands represents Hudson County Community College.
Established in 2006, the Kaplan Leadership Program targets high-potential, low-income students who attend community colleges. The initiative provides these individuals with stipends for living expenses, extensive tutoring, and academic advisement. The program also offers leadership and career training designed to help students complete associate degrees and transfer to selective four-year institutions.
Nolvia Delgado, the executive director of the Kaplan Educational Foundation, described the selection process for the new group as difficult. She noted that the challenge reflects the talent and potential present in the community college student population. Delgado stated that the students maintain strong grades while holding leadership positions, working jobs, managing family responsibilities, and carrying a full course load.
The foundation reports that its alumni have been accepted to competitive schools, including Yale, Stanford, Princeton, Brown, Amherst, and Smith. To date, the program has produced more than 170 alumni who have entered fields such as business, law, medicine, education, public policy, and engineering.
Delgado explained that the program addresses a disparity between talent and opportunity. She said that while talent is widespread, opportunity is not. The foundation aims to remove barriers to higher education for students who might otherwise be overlooked or underserved.
Data from the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University, shows that 80% of community college students aspire to transfer to a four-year school. However, only 16% of those students ultimately earn a bachelor's degree. Among low-income families, the percentage of students who complete a bachelor's degree falls to 11%.
The Kaplan Educational Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity. It was initially supported by an endowment funded by executives from Kaplan, Inc. The organization's mission is to eliminate barriers to higher education for high-potential, low-income community college students through academic and financial support and leadership training.
The 12 new scholars will begin receiving support during the 2026-2027 academic year. The program continues to focus on helping community college students transition to four-year degrees at highly selective schools. The foundation maintains that its approach helps students expand their personal goals and attain leadership roles in their professions and communities.
