Harvey Mudd College Upward Bound Alum Receives 2026 National TRIO Achiever Award

Edgar Corona, an alumnus of the Upward Bound program at Harvey Mudd College, has been named a recipient of the 2026 National TRIO Achiever Award by the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE). The award, among the highest honors bestowed by the COE, recognizes outstanding alumni of Federal TRIO Programs who have overcome adversity to achieve exceptional professional success and make significant contributions to their communities.

Corona, a first-generation college graduate of Georgetown University and New York University, currently serves as a senior marketing leader at Visa. Throughout his 10-plus-year career in marketing, he has leveraged quantitative and qualitative analysis to shape global sponsorship strategies for major brands and world-renowned events, including FIFA, the NFL and the Olympic Games.

Corona credits the Harvey Mudd College Upward Bound program with laying the groundwork for his achievements by providing the mentorship, academic preparation and professional networks necessary to launch his career, noting, “Upward Bound set the critical foundation and became the catalyst for what came afterward.”

“I was deeply moved to watch Edgar receive this national honor. It served as a powerful reminder of what first-generation students can accomplish when provided with academic resources, mentorship and the belief that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to accomplish,” said Angie Covarrubias Aguilar, director of the Upward Bound program at Harvey Mudd College. She attended the Sept. 17 event at the COE Annual Conference in San Diego, where Corona was honored alongside four other national recipients. “Our students already possess the drive, and our role is simply providing support that brings those abstract goals into sharp focus. It has been an honor to witness Edgar’s journey.”

“These extraordinary individuals demonstrate what is possible when talent is matched with opportunity,” said Kimberly Jones, president of the Council for Opportunity in Education. “Each of our 2026 National TRIO Achievers has transformed personal adversity into professional excellence and meaningful service to others.”

Throughout his career in fintech and marketing, Corona has led significant national and global initiatives. During his time with the NFL, he spearheaded the Latino consumer engagement marketing strategy for Super Bowl LI, resulting in record-breaking Spanish-language cable viewership. Later, at Clorox during the early stages of the pandemic, he led a cross-functional team to resolve supply chain constraints, ensuring vital hygienic products reached underserved communities. Beyond his corporate success, Corona remains committed to advocacy and mentorship.

Corona joins a distinguished roster of TRIO Achievers, including Academy Award-winning actress Viola Davis, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock and retired NASA astronaut José Hernández.

For more than 50 years, Harvey Mudd’s Upward Bound program has helped first-generation, low-income high school students develop skills for college success. Historically, more than 90 percent of HMC’s Upward Bound students have enrolled in postsecondary institutions after graduating from high school.