HANCEVILLE — It’s a tale of two cities coming together for one big prize.

Wallace State Community College, with campuses in Hanceville and Oneonta, was named a finalist for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The $1 million award is the nation’s signature recognition of strong performance among community colleges.

“We are honored to be recognized by the Aspen Institute among this most elite group of institutions,” said Wallace State Community College President Vicki Karolewics. “Wallace State has been committed to achieving the highest levels of success for our students for many years, so that students regardless of their backgrounds are equipped to enter the workforce in a rewarding career or continue to excel upon transfer to a university.

“Our recognition reflects the ongoing commitment of our outstanding faculty and staff, and the support of the communities and students we serve.”

Awarded every two years, the Aspen Prize honors colleges with outstanding performance in six critical areas: teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, workforce success, broad access to the college and its offerings, and equitable outcomes for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds. The winner will be announced in the spring of 2025.

“Working-class Americans are experiencing an economy that seems to be stacked against them, while employers are struggling to find well-prepared workers in fields such as teaching, nursing, software development, welding, and advanced manufacturing,” Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, said. “The 10 Aspen Prize finalists demonstrate how community colleges serving urban and rural communities throughout the country can prepare many more graduates for fulfilling lives and careers in their communities.

“They show that excellence can be reached in any and every context.”