Alamo Colleges District Receives Prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for a Second Time

(SAN ANTONIO, Texas) –April 1, 2025– The Alamo Colleges District has again made history by receiving the prestigious 2024 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award—the nation’s highest presidential honor for performance excellence—at the Quest for Excellence Conference on March 30, 2025. 

The award was presented by Eric K. Lin, Acting Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), U.S. Department of Commerce, along with Dr. Kathryn Eggleston, Chair of the Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, and Robert Fangmeyer, Director of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program. 

In 2018, the Alamo Colleges District became the first community college system in the nation to receive the Baldrige Award. With this second recognition, the Alamo Colleges joins an elite group of organizations that have demonstrated sustained excellence and transformative impact. The Alamo Colleges is one of only five organizations—and the only educational institution—in the United States to receive the 2024 award.

“Receiving the Baldrige Award for a second time is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we lead with purpose and put students first,” said Dr. Mike Flores, Alamo Colleges District Chancellor. “This recognition reflects the commitment of our Board, faculty, and staff as we work toward our moonshot of ending poverty through education and training. Our win is our community’s win.”

Under the Baldrige framework, the Alamo Colleges has led a series of initiatives to better serve students and the community including:

• AlamoADVISE – A comprehensive, personalized advising model that provides students with clear pathways to completion, ensuring timely progress toward academic and career goals.
• AlamoPROMISE – A tuition-free college program that has eliminated financial barriers for over 23,000 students —many of them first-generation college students. 
• Student Advocacy Center Network – Holistic support hubs at all five Alamo Colleges that address barriers to student success by providing access to food, childcare, mental health resources, and emergency aid.

The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award was established by Congress in 1987 to raise awareness about the importance of quality and performance excellence and to recognize organizations that demonstrate outstanding quality systems and results.

The Alamo Colleges District comprises Northeast Lakeview College, Northwest Vista College, Palo Alto College, St. Philip’s College, and San Antonio College. It is one of the largest community college systems in the nation. Located in the heart of America’s fastest-growing city and one of its most economically challenged, the Alamo Colleges remains committed to lifting individuals and families out of poverty through its moonshot – partnering to end poverty through education and training. 

Baldrige Foundation Awards for Leadership Excellence

In addition to the Alamo Colleges recognition, two Alamo Colleges District Presidents were also honored at the national conference. Dr. Adena Williams Loston, St. Philip’s College President, and Dr. Robert Garza, Palo Alto College President, each received the Baldrige Foundation Award for Leadership Excellence in the education sector. 

“The Foundation Awards for Leadership Excellence were established to recognize leaders who provide exceptional support to Baldrige and the Foundation’s mission, helping to sustain Baldrige into the future, and promoting the positive impact of Baldrige on organizational and community success,” said Al Faber, President and CEO of the Baldrige Foundation.

Dr. Loston brings more than four decades of visionary leadership experience to her role as President of St. Philip’s College, the only institution in the nation designated as both a Historically Black College and a Hispanic-Serving Institution. Under her leadership, St. Philip’s College serves more than 18,000 students, including those at four Early College High Schools, 12 P-TECH High Schools, three military installations, and a nationally recognized Good Samaritan Veterans Outreach and Transition Center. 

Dr. Garza, President of Palo Alto College since 2018, has served the Alamo Colleges District since 1999 in roles spanning community partnerships and student success. In his first year as president, Dr. Garza led Palo Alto College to national acclaim as a Rising Star for the 2019 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. He also played a key role in the District’s 2018 Baldrige win and led a record-setting $1.3 million scholarship fundraiser in support of students. 

To see a complete list of Baldrige Foundation Leadership Awards recipients and to read more about the announcement, click here. To learn more about the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the Alamo Colleges District’s journey toward excellence, visit alamo.edu/baldrige.