Southeastern Community College eligible for $1 million Aspen Prize, campus expansion underway
COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Southeastern Community College is celebrating its 60th birthday and it may get a unique present soon.
The school has been ranked among the top 150 U.S. community colleges, making it eligible for a prestigious award.
“We have been at the hub of developing Columbus County for 60 years,” SCC Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer Sylvia Cox said. “When you think of Columbus County and you’ve been here very long, you can’t think of Columbus County without thinking about Southeastern Community College.”
Southeastern Community College, in Columbus County, is up for the Aspen Prize. If it is selected, it will receive a $1 million prize from the Aspen Institute.
The Aspen Institute recognizes excellence in schools that provide equitable outcomes for students in and after college.
Southeastern President Dr. Chris English said it is an honor that other institutions are noticing SCC’s dedication to education in Columbus County. He said “there’s more to come” through an upcoming expansion.
“That’s really what has led to us looking at and now, part of the process to develop those 78 acres for our new programs that we’ve added on at the campus,” Dr. English said.
These programs will supply economic growth in the area to healthcare, transportation logistics, public safety, and a dominant force in Columbus County— agriculture.
“Our existing students will move into that facility and then where Whiteville City Schools and Columbus County Schools have automotive in their programs— we will take that course work for college credit and then let them continue on to get the degree to train in this new facility,” Dr. English said. “So, it’s a great pathway for a student.”
Dr. English said this expansion wouldn’t have been possible without efforts from Representative Brenden Jones who has, in the past couple of years, allocated and appropriated $26.5 million to SCC.
Southeastern Community College Executive Vice President Sylvia Cox said SCC wants to invest in its students that will one day be given the choice to invest in Columbus County.
“Our success is only success if it equals success for our community,” Cox said.
Southeastern Community College has had the third highest enrollment increase in the state.
