Press release:

Highline Community College was selected by the Community College Futures Assembly as a 2013 finalist for the 19th annual Bellwether Awards.

The competition was held Jan. 26-29 in Buena Vista, Florida. Established in 1995, the Bellwether honor is given to colleges that implement exceptional and innovative programs in their institutions.

Ten finalists were selected in three categories: Instructional Programs and Services; Planning, Governance and Finance; and Workforce Development.

Highline competed in the Planning, Governance and Finance division. Each year, between 100 and 500 applications are submitted from community colleges around the world for a chance to become a Bellwether finalist.

“It is a huge honor that Highline Community College was selected as one of 10 finalists for this Bellwether award and to receive this external validation for the college’s innovative initiative around alumni relations,” said Highline President, Dr. Jack Bermingham.

Dr. Bermingham; Dr. Lisa Skari, vice president for institutional advancement; and Meg Ryan, a business faculty member, presented “Community College Alumni: Becoming Forces for Good,” and shared their work and vision for Highline’s developing alumni relations program.

Dr. Skari performed her doctoral research on community college alumni donors, which spurred Highline’s commitment to build an engaging alumni relations program.

“By reconnecting, or staying connected to our alumni, we create the opportunity for them to leave their legacy and become forces for good by providing critical resources to their two-year alma mater and our mission of access to higher education,” said Dr. Skari.

For more information on the Bellwether award and Community College Futures Assembly, visit http://futures.education.ufl.edu.