CVTC Named Top 200 Community College by Aspen Institute

Washington, D.C. – Aspen Institute named Chippewa Valley Technical College one of 200 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation's signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America's community colleges.

CVTC is one of more than 1,000 community colleges nationwide chosen as having high and improving levels of student success as well as equitable outcomes for Black and Hispanic students and those from lower-income backgrounds.

“We are honored to be recognized as a leader throughout the nation of equitable outcomes,” said Sunem Beaton-Garcia, CVTC president. “Our instructors and staff are dedicated to fostering lifelong learning for our students – not only while they are learning with us, but well beyond graduation.”

The 200 eligible colleges were announced last week and have been invited to submit data and narratives as the next steps in an intensive data and practice review process, culminating in the announcement of the prize winner in spring 2027.

The Aspen Prize spotlights exemplary community colleges to elevate the sector, drive attention to colleges doing the best work and discover and share highly effective student success and equity strategies.

With these goals in mind, the Aspen Prize honors colleges with outstanding achievement in five critical areas: teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, workforce success, and equity for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds.

“The Aspen Prize rewards colleges that achieve the kind of outcomes that actually matter to students—completing college degree programs that, in turn, lead to lifelong success,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, in the release. “Aspen Prize winners offer a powerful message: Community colleges can deliver the kind of life-changing education that makes the American Dream real.”

The next steps in the process include:

• Selection of the top ten finalists by an expert panel in community colleges, higher education, and workforce training, to be announced in spring/summer 2026.
• Fall 2026 site visits to each of the ten finalists, during which the Aspen Institute and partners will collect additional information, including employment and earnings data and insights about promising practices.
• A distinguished jury will meet and make award decisions in the first quarter of early 2027.
• Announcement of the Aspen Prize in spring 2027

The 2025 winner was Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in Wisconsin. For a full list of the top eligible institutions and to read more on the selection process, visit.