On Thursday, December 18, Mercy University announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Latino U College Access (LUCA), a leading Westchester County nonprofit dedicated to supporting low-income, first-generation students in their pursuit of higher education. The agreement establishes a collaborative relationship designed to expand postsecondary opportunities, strengthen student support and enhance financial accessibility for LUCA Scholars enrolling at Mercy University. The partnership also reflects Mercy University’s commitment to making higher education attainable by working to provide competitive, need-based financial aid packages to admitted LUCA students.
“This partnership reflects Mercy University’s mission to provide transformative educational opportunities for students from all backgrounds,” said Susan L. Parish, PhD, MSW, president of Mercy University. “We are proud to work alongside Latino U College Access in expanding pathways for talented first-generation students and ensuring they have the resources needed to thrive.”
“This partnership with Mercy University reflects our shared commitment to expanding access to higher education,” said Shirley Acevedo Buontempo, founder and executive director of LUCA. ”Together, we are strengthening academic and personal support for first-generation students in Westchester County and creating meaningful pathways to college and lifelong success. In partnership with Mercy University, we are creating pathways to higher education that reflect our joint belief in the transformative power of education — because when students succeed, communities flourish.”
Under the MOU, Mercy University and LUCA will coordinate outreach efforts to LUCA high school students and provide structured support for LUCA Scholars who matriculate at Mercy. LUCA will continue to support its alumni who matriculate at Mercy University through the organization’s Post-Secondary Program, offering mentoring, college and career advising, and when applicable, access to emergency need grants and other financial incentives designed to promote persistence and student success.
Mercy University, in turn, will work to meet the full financial need of incoming LUCA Scholars by maximizing federal, state, and institutional aid. Additionally, Mercy University will host annual campus visits to introduce LUCA students to academic programs, student services and the broader campus environment. Mercy will also support LUCA programming by contributing subject-matter expertise and volunteers to initiatives such as College Knowledge workshops and FAFSA completion sessions.
The partnership holds special significance for students who have benefited from both organizations, as it formalizes a pathway they have experienced firsthand—one that combines early college access, sustained mentorship, and a supportive university environment to help first-generation students persist, graduate, and achieve long-term success.
“As an alumna of both LUCA and Mercy University, this alliance means a great deal to me,” said Karol Toral, LUCA and Mercy University alumna. “It represents a major step forward in expanding access to college education for the next generation of Latino scholars and brings together two organizations that were instrumental in my own educational journey. I look forward to seeing how this partnership empowers LUCA Scholars to pursue higher education with confidence, support and the freedom to truly spread their wings.”
Kevin Arpi, LUCA Scholar and Mercy University student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science, echoed that sentiment, highlighting the role both institutions played in his academic growth. “Transitioning from Westchester Community College to Mercy University was a pivotal chapter in my journey,” Arpi said. “I found mentors who believed in me and a community that fueled my passion for biomedical sciences. LUCA played a critical role in supporting that transition, and Mercy provided an environment that helped shape my aspirations and prepare me for the next steps in my career.”
