DES MOINES, Wash.—Highline Community College received the 2013 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.

“Highline is honored to receive this award and be recognized for our belief in diversity and the work we do every day on our campus,” said HCC President, Dr. Jack Bermingham. “Diversity is more than a program or an initiative at Highline; it is an institutional value.”

As a recipient of the annual HEED Award—a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion—Highline will be featured along with 55 other recipients in INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine’s November 2013 issue.

INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine selected recipients based on exemplary diversity and inclusion initiatives, and ability to embrace a broad definition of diversity on campus, including gender, race, ethnicity, veterans, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBT community.

“We hope the HEED award serves as a way to honor those institutions of higher education that recognize the importance of diversity and inclusion as part of their everyday campus culture,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

Highline is the most diverse college in Washington and was the only institution in the state to receive the 2013 HEED award.