West Point EXCEL Scholars Program

Where talent is supported, excellence thrives!

 The EXCEL Scholars Program is a Dean’s-sponsored initiative started in AY 2012 to promote the personal and professional excellence of high-performing cadets from underrepresented groups by encouraging them to strive for a higher standard and be an instrument for change.

EXCEL accomplishes this mission through identification of promising cadets from historically underrepresented groups, nurturing the talent to compete for post-graduate scholarship opportunities, encouraging ongoing excellence in the academic, military, and physical dimensions of the West Point Leader Development System (WPLDS), and promoting diversity among the cadet leadership participant pool.  

EXCEL provides targeted enrichment aimed at improving technical expertise, research opportunities, writing, communication skills, and leader development.

EXCEL Scholars Program Goals

20%

compete and win post-graduate educational opportunities

25%

eligible to be interviewed for the West Point Graduate Scholarship Program

25%

selected for key leadership positions in the Corps of Cadets

How EXCEL Meets These Goals

  • Small Group Faculty Mentorship
  • GRE and Interview Prep Classes 
  • Monthly Fireside Chats
  • Annual GEM Grad Labs
  • Personal Statement Development
  • Grad School Application Review 

Recent Cadet Accomplishments

Previous EXCEL Scholars

EXCEL Cadet Scholarships 

The National GEM Consortium is addressing the critical shortfall in the production of American engineering and scientific talent. The mission of The National GEM Consortium is to enhance the value of the nation's human capital by increasing the participation of underrepresented groups (African Americans, American Indians, and Hispanic Americans) at the master's and doctoral levels in engineering and science.  Cadets compete for the MS Engineering Fellowship.  Through the GEM Consortium corporations, universities, and U.S. government labs partner to provide GEM Fellows full tuition and fees as well as practical engineering summer experiences.

For more information on The National Gem Consortium Fellowship, please visit www.gemfellowship.org.

Contact the EXCEL Scholars Program

Director:
Dr. Mai Tran
Director of Excel Scholars
Department of Systems Engineering
Office: 845.938.6728
mai.tran@westpoint.edu

Deputy Director:
Keysia Harvin
Assistant Professor
Department of Law
Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion
Office: 845.938.4543
lakeysia.harvin@westpoint.edu

Executive Officer:
Donald Koban
Lieutenant Colonel
Assistant Professor
Department of Systems Engineering
Office: 845.938.8441
donald.koban@westpoint.edu