Awards and Accolades
University earns national recognition for Hispanic and Latino student success
The University of Arizona is among the first institutions in America to earn the new Intentionally Thriving Institution designation of the Seal of Excelencia from the national nonprofit Excelencia in Education. The university is one of only eight throughout the U.S. to earn the honor.
The University of Arizona is one of only eight throughout the U.S. to earn the new Intentionally Thriving Institution designation.
Excelencia cited the university's success in improving graduation and retention rates among Hispanic and Latino students. The six-year graduation rate has risen from 59.8% in 2021 to 65.8% in 2025. The three-year retention rate among Hispanic and Latino U of A students has also increased, from 63.3% to 71.5%, over the last seven years.
The U of A was among the inaugural recipients of the Seal of Excelencia in 2019 and was recertified in 2022. This fall, 14,140 students – more than a quarter of total enrollment – identify as Hispanic or Latino.
Learn more about the recognition and the programs supporting Hispanic and Latino students in a story on the university's news website.
Condon wins global science award
Laura Condon
Laura Condon, professor in the Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, has been selected by the American Geophysical Union to receive the prestigious 2025 James B. Macelwane Medal.
The medal is given annually to three to five early career scientists in recognition of their significant contributions to Earth and space science. Nominees are selected for the medal based on their depth and breadth of research, impact, creativity as well as service, outreach and diversity.
Condon is being honored for her work in understanding and simulating groundwater-surface water interactions under human influence. Her research has reshaped how scientists view groundwater's role in the hydrologic cycle and its critical connection to climate, ecosystems, and human water use.
The American Geophysical Union is a more than century-old global organization supporting more than half a million advocates and professionals in the Earth and space sciences. Condon will be honored at AGU's annual meeting in December in New Orleans. Read more about the honor in a story posted on the College of Science website.