Heights Philadelphia Honored with the 2026 Asa G. Hilliard Model of Excellence Award

Heights Philadelphia, a nonprofit that supports Black and first-generation college students, is the 2026 winner of the Asa G. Hilliard Model of Excellence Award. The award was announced March 18, 2026, at the A Dream Deferred™ and HBCU Conferences in Philadelphia. 

The organization formed in 2022 through the merger of Philadelphia Futures (founded 1989) and Steppingstone Scholars (founded 1999). Heights Philadelphia drives economic mobility for thousands of students with programs that span middle school through early career.

Heights offers a range of programs to support students’ pathways to academic and professional opportunities:

• Middle school programming prepares students for high school selection with summer and weekend support, tutoring, advising, and skills-building workshops.
• High school programming offers college and career advising, workforce exposure, and academic enrichment. Summer programs place students on university campuses for credit-earning courses, while enrichment programs build STEM skills in robotics, coding, computer science, and advanced math and science.
• College support services include access to a college success advisor, providing ongoing guidance on financial aid, adjusting to campus life, and postgraduation planning for careers or further education. Plus, stipends help some students cover indirect college costs.
• Career guidance is embedded in middle school, high school, and college programs. Heights works with workforce partners to provide experiential learning and internship opportunities in 5 key industries: business and financial services, technology, healthcare, life sciences, and human services.

“Things can be and will be different if we invest in young people,” said Dr. Sean Vereen, president and CEO. The organization focuses primarily on students from low-income backgrounds—many of whom are Black, Latino, or the first in their families to attend college. 

“We believe partnerships are critical because if we can show people that it is possible to do this at scale and high quality, that it can be done across the whole city,” said Dr. Vereen.

About the Asa G. Hilliard Model of Excellence Award

The Dr. Asa G. Hilliard Model of Excellence Award acknowledges individuals or organizations that have encouraged African American students to strive for academic success. Recognized by College Board, these individuals and organizations have developed successful methodologies that positively impacted countless African American students and families. Each recipient represents a model that can be replicated by others trying to make a difference in the lives of our youth.

The 2025 recipient of the Asa G. Hilliard Model of Excellence Award was Dr. Luke Wood, president, California State University, Sacramento—recognized for the creation of the nation’s first Black Honors College, which welcomed its inaugural class of scholars in fall 2024.