ECC wins national award

Elgin Community College has won a national award for its efforts to prepare students for college and career readiness.

The college was named a National Exemplar in Career Preparedness by ACT on June 22 in Washington, D.C.

"We are excited to receive this prestigious award," ECC President David Sam said. "We have outstanding partnerships with our District 509 high schools with the same mission to improve lives through learning. This honor exemplifies our commitment to successfully prepare students for college while they are still in high school."

ECC was chosen in February as an Illinois Exemplar - one of 40 institutions representing their state.

Nominees for the national award were chosen by an external selection committee comprising education, business and political leaders. The exemplars are recognized for their exceptional commitment to improving college and career readiness for themselves, their students, their employees, and their communities.

"In their states and across the country, the exemplars in each category provide inspiration, innovation, and new ideas for practical solutions that are helping more individuals prepare for postsecondary and workplace success," said Scott Montgomery, ACT vice president of policy, advocacy, and government relations.

ECC was honored for its Alliance for College Readiness partnership that prepares high school students for college, the Transition Academy bridge program that prepares high school students to make positive academic and life choices, offering open-door unemployment services to more than 100 people each month, and community financial literacy efforts. ECC also was recognized for its use of nine types of ACT WorkKeys® assessments to provide career preparation to students and unemployed community members.

"ECC is deeply committed in not only helping students succeed in higher education, but to offer the best foundation for them to be trained for their careers," said Elizabeth Roeger, ECC dean of developmental education and college transitions. "This recognition from ACT demonstrates that the college is moving in the right path."