West Kentucky Community & Technical College

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WKCTC Anxiously Awaits Aspen Prize Announcement

Paducah, KY (05/17/2021) — West Kentucky Community and Technical College faculty, staff, students, and supporters will be holding their breath and crossing their fingers that 2021 will be the year the college is named the top community college in the nation.

The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program will announce May 18th the winner of the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation's signature recognition of high achievement and performance among community colleges. A virtual award ceremony begins at 11:30 a.m. CDT May 18th. This is WKCTC's fifth time as an Aspen Prize finalist (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2021). WKCTC was honored as a Finalist with Distinction in 2011 and 2015.

"No matter what happens today, it goes without saying that the very fact that WKCTC has been recognized among the nation's best community colleges five times is a feat that all of western Kentucky and the Commonwealth can be proud of," said WKCTC President Anton Reece. "I'm so very appreciative of our amazing faculty, dedicated staff, successful students and generous supporters. Without each, we couldn't have consistently been in the top community colleges."

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 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.

Today's virtual ceremony can be viewed live at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Remq43olMp0

Media Attachments

WKCTC President Anton Reece

Agenda which will be given out at the college's Watch Party on May 18, 2021

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