Lake-Sumter State College Named As A Top 200 U.S. Community College By The Aspen Institute

Kevin Yurasek, Lake-Sumter State College

 

Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) has been named one of 200 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s foremost recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges. This selection places LSSC among the top community colleges nationwide, honored for exceptional student outcomes such as retention, completion, transfer, and bachelor’s attainment rates.

This is the ninth cycle of the Aspen Prize, which launched in 2010. The 200 eligible colleges were selected based on comprehensive data regarding student success, including consistent improvement across student populations. These colleges, spread across urban, rural, and suburban communities, provide a broad representation of the sector and offer programs from workforce-focused training to transfer pathways and bachelor’s degree attainment.

“Lake-Sumter State College is honored to be recognized by the Aspen Institute among the country’s leading community colleges,” said John Temple, President of LSSC. “This distinction reflects the unwavering dedication of our faculty and staff to helping students achieve their goals. I am especially proud of our commitment to ensuring that Lake-Sumter graduates are truly job ready. They are prepared not only to advance in the workforce, but to thrive and contribute meaningfully in their communities.”

The Aspen Prize is designed to measure and reward colleges for the outcomes that make the greatest difference in students’ lives—namely, completing degree and certificate programs that lead to enduring success. As Josh Wyner, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, stated, “Aspen Prize winners offer a powerful message: Community colleges can deliver the kind of life-changing education that makes the American Dream real”.

Eligible colleges will submit an application and participate in a rigorous review process that will culminate in the naming of the Aspen Prize winner in spring 2027. Over the coming 20 months, the colleges that apply for the Aspen Prize will be assessed based on (1) student outcomes data, ranging from student transfer and completion rates to employment and wages after graduation and (2) whether they have engaged in scaled practices that led to high and improving student outcomes. 

To read more about the selection process, visit as.pn/prize.

 

Founded in 1962, Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) offers a high-quality education at an affordable price to the communities of Lake and Sumter counties. LSSC embraces its mission as a community college to increase access and opportunity for all learners in its community. As a proud member of the Florida College System, LSSC serves more than 10,000 students annually at four locations and online: Leesburg, Four Corners, South Lake (Clermont), and Sumterville. LSSC offers non-credit, certificate, associate degree, and bachelor’s degree programs designed to support and prepare students to pursue their goals and join Florida’s dynamic workforce. LSSC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Learn more about LSSC at www.lssc.edu.

 

The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program aims to strengthen higher education leadership and practice to improve student outcomes—with the ultimate goal of advancing economic mobility and developing talent for the good of each individual and society as a whole. For more information, visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn, Bluesky, and X.

 

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.