The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program will announce the winner of the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence at a virtual award ceremony on Tuesday, May 18, from 1 to 2 pm Eastern time. Also to be announced will be the awards for Finalist with Distinction and Rising Star from among ten finalist institutions:
- Amarillo College (TX)
- Broward College (FL)
- Borough of Manhattan Community College (NY)
- Odessa College (TX)
- Pasadena City College (CA)
- Pierce College (WA)
- San Antonio College (TX)
- San Jacinto College (TX)
- Tallahassee Community College (FL)
- West Kentucky Community & Technical College (KY)
Among the speakers at the ceremony will be:
- Jill Biden, first lady of the United States and community college professor
- Miguel Cardona, U.S. secretary of education
- Freeman Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Aspen Prize jury co-chair)
- Ruth Williams-Brinkley, president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States (Aspen Prize jury co-chair)
- Students from the 10 finalist institutions
The event news release detailing winners and their accomplishments will be available May 18 at 2 pm at: highered.aspeninstitute.org/media-resources/
The Aspen Prize, awarded every two years since 2011, recognizes outstanding institutions selected from a pool of more than 1,000 community colleges nationwide. With a singular focus on student success, the Aspen Prize honors institutions with outstanding achievement in six areas: teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, workforce success, equitable outcomes for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds, and leadership and culture.
