Cal State San Bernardino’s Office of Pre-College Programs was named the recipient of a Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) award in the Excellence in Innovation category. The team was recognized at GIA’s Toward a Shared Vision ceremony, held at the Riverside Convention Center in late October.

“The Office of Pre-College Programs is humbled to be recognized for Excellence in Innovation at GIA’s Toward a Shared Vision,” said Summer Steele, executive director of the Office of Pre-College Programs. “This award is a testament to the creativity, dedication and teamwork of the 12 pre-college programs working together with each other, the campus and community to improve the educational and economic outcomes for the region.”

The award criteria required that an individual or group employs curiosity and courage in their work; they know bold, innovative thinking is necessary to identify greater systems efficiency and solve longstanding regional challenges.

The Office of Pre-College Programs continues to make a profound impact by providing middle and high school students with educational and personal support services to help them graduate high school, and eventually, college.

In fact, in the last 10 years, CSUSB has grown from having two pre-college programs serving 100 students per year, across six high schools, to now housing programs serving more than 10,000 students per year, across 16 school districts in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

In addition to the Office of Pre-College Programs earning an award, CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales was also a 2023 recipient of a Toward a Shared Vision award from GIA in the area of Student-Centered Excellence.