Morton College has been chosen as one of the nation’s top 150 community colleges eligible for the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. This nomination qualifies Morton College for a chance to win $1 million in prize funds.

The “Prize,” awarded every two years, is the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America’s community colleges and recognizes institutions for exceptional student outcomes in four areas: student learning, certificate and degree completion, employment and earnings, and high levels of access and success for minority and low-income students. The Aspen Institute, an educational and policy studies organization in Washington DC, selected the top colleges from a pool of over 1,000 two-year colleges.

“We are honored to be invited by the Aspen Institute to apply for this prestigious award. When I look at the list of two-year colleges that were extended the same invitation, I notice the names of some very fine colleges that are not on the list. To be included is quite a distinction for Morton College and its service area,” said Dr. Dana Grove, Morton College President.

Ten finalists will be named in fall of 2014. The institute will then conduct site visits and collect additional data before a grand prize winner and a few finalists with distinction are named in early 2015.