MSGulf Inc.-Growing Mississippi Business Together

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program announced Monday that Valencia College in Orlando, Fla., is the nation's top community college and honored four "finalists with distinction" from an original pool of over 1,000.

WASHINGTON -- Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College missed out on the prize money in the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program.

MGCCC and nine other community colleges were in the running for $1 million in prize money.

On Monday, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program announced that Valencia College in Orlando, Florida, is the nation's top community college and honored four "finalists with distinction" from an original pool of more than 1,000.

The announcement was made at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

Mary Graham, MGCCC president, was in Washington for the announcement.

Graham said that Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is honored to be among the top 10 community colleges receiving the first-ever national recognition by the Aspen Institute.

"We extend our congratulations to Valencia College and the four finalists with distinction," she said. "We look forward to continuing our discussions with these outstanding institutions as we move forward in developing our Strategic Plan 2020. Our employees are to be commended for their commitment to instructional excellence and student success."

Joshua Wynder, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program said, "Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College impressed us on many fronts, including the exceptional tutoring centers it maintains for students and its very strong ties to local employers, allowing MGCCC graduates to succeed in four year colleges and in the workforce. We thank Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College for participating in this year's Aspen Prize process, and for helping define excellence for community colleges nationwide."

Valencia is to receive a $600,000 prize to support its programs while each "finalist with distinction" is to receive $100,000. The Finalists with Distinction are: Lake Area Technical Institute, Watertown, South Dakota; Miami Dade College, Miami, Florida; Walla Walla Community College, Walla Walla, Washington; and West Kentucky Community and Technical College, Paducah, Kentucky.

The top 10 finalists were named in September.

The Aspen Prize is funded by the Joyce Foundation, Lumina Foundation, Bank of America Charitable Foundation and JPMorgan Chase Foundation.