Latino U College Access (LUCA) was founded in 2012 by its founder and CEO, Shirley Acevedo Buontempo, with a vision to address the educational inequities that limit access to higher education for low-income, first-generation students.

As a first-generation Latina college graduate herself, Shirley recognized that many talented students were not reaching their full potential—not because of a lack of ability, but because they lacked access to the resources, guidance, and information needed to navigate the complex college application process. Determined to change this reality, she established Latino U College Access as a nonprofit organization and launched a pilot initiative to provide culturally and linguistically relevant information about college admissions and financial aid to students and families.

As the organization worked more closely with students, it became clear that information alone was not enough—students needed personalized guidance and sustained support. In response, LUCA launched the LUCA Scholars Program in 2013, providing one-on-one college coaching to high-achieving juniors and seniors as they navigate the college application and financial aid process.

A major milestone came in 2016, when LUCA received a Transformational Grant from Impact100 Westchester. This investment allowed the organization to expand its model by launching the College Success Program, extending support beyond college admission to ensure Scholars persist, graduate on time, and transition successfully into careers.

Since its founding, LUCA has built partnerships with eight Westchester high schools and accepts applications from students across the county. 649 Scholars have gone through the LUCA Scholars Program and more than 7,000+ individuals and families have received information and guidance through LUCA’s community wide info sessions.