By: Aurora Dreger – Project Director, Educating All Learners Alliance, InnovateEDU
What if a digital coach could help first-generation students navigate their path to college – and stay there? A high school in New York City is turning that “what if” into a reality, with support from the Educating All Learners Alliance.
I’m pleased to announce that HBCU Early College Prep High School has been selected as the winner of the 2025 ASU+GSV Education Innovation Showcase Idea Category Award. HBCU Early College Prep High School will receive $5,000 to support its Virtual Success Coaching pilot program.
About the Award
The Educating All Learners Alliance sponsors the Idea Category at the ASU+GSV Innovation Showcase, a global competition honoring K-12 systems leaders who are launching innovation in their communities. Our $5,000 award specifically supports innovations that ensure all learners, especially those with disabilities and learning differences, can benefit from educational advancements.
The Winning Project
HBCU Early College Prep High School will use the award to design and implement a Virtual Success Coaching pilot for students. The program targets first-generation, college-bound students in a dual-enrollment setting and includes:
- A digital advising platform to monitor student progress
- Training and stipends for success coaches
- Interactive virtual modules focused on college readiness, wellness, and academic goal-setting
The pilot is modeled after Delaware State University’s Academic Advisor role, which has achieved a 75% retention rate. HBCU Early College Prep is committed to cultivating academic excellence and closing opportunity gaps for its students through culturally responsive academic advising.
Building on Success
This continues the impact of the 2024 ASU GSV Innovation Showcase Idea Category winner, Making Waves Education Foundation, which used its EALA award to enhance AI-powered career coaching for young people from low-income families. Making Waves added features to better serve subgroups of learners and expanded their reach to both urban and rural communities.
Looking Ahead
The insights from HBCU Early College Prep High School’s pilot will be shared across EALA’s network to inform similar efforts nationwide. This work aligns with our mission to identify and share promising practices that support all learners, especially those with disabilities and learning differences.
Applications for the 2026 ASU+GSV Education Innovation Showcase will open in Fall 2025.
Congratulations to HBCU Early College Prep High School on their award.
Related:
Read about highlights from the 2024 ASU+GSV Education Innovation Showcase Competition.