Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
Ironwood, MI October 11, 2019 – Michigan’s Gogebic Community College was named today as one of 150 community colleges eligible to compete for the 2019 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance in America’s community colleges.
Gogebic Community College was selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 public two-year colleges nationwide to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize.
“The great work and dedication to student success and excellence from our administration, faculty and staff has earned us the privilege to be named among the Nation’s best 150 community colleges by the Aspen Institute, and the opportunity to be considered for this year’s Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence,” said GCC President Jim Lorenson. Along with the prestige and distinction of being listed among the highest performing community colleges across the country, the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence awards multiple monetary prizes for top applying institutions. “Whether or not we ultimately win an Aspen Prize, the recognition and opportunity are a reflection of the hard work that is put in every day, across our organization. It is proof that what we do matters, not only to our students but to the region we serve. We are very proud of the success that our students have achieved.”
Awarded every two years since 2011, the Aspen Prize recognizes institutions with outstanding achievements in four areas: learning; certificate and degree completion; employment and earnings; and high levels of access and success for minority and low-income students.
Gogebic Community College will move forward to the next round of the competition for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence by submitting an application to be reviewed through a rigorous evaluation for a spot on the top ten Aspen Prize finalists list. Top ten finalists will be named in May 2018. The Aspen Institute will then conduct site visits to each of the finalists and collect additional quantitative data. A distinguished Prize Jury will select a grand prize winner, finalist(s) with distinction, and rising star(s) in spring 2019.
