AACC is still in the running alongside 45 other community colleges for a $1 million excellence award.

In November, the Aspen Institute—an international, nonprofit education and policy studies think tank—invited 150 colleges from across the country to apply for the annual Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

According to the institute’s website, the next step in the process after the invitation is a second round of judging, in which Aspen officials choose 10 finalists. But Dr. Mike Gavin, AACC’s vice president for learning, said only 45 schools remain in the running.

Gavin said the next step is for AACC administrators to meet with Aspen officials for interviews.

The award measures student success in four areas: learning, certificate and degree completion, employment and earnings outcomes for graduates, and high levels of access and success for minority and low-income students.

Amanda Murphy, a first-year childhood education major, said the college deserves the award.

“There’s a lot of good programs [at AACC],” she said.

AACC President Dawn Lindsay said in November the college was “honored” by the invitation, and Gavin called the award “the biggest honor you can receive as a community college.”

If selected, the college will use the prize money for student scholarships, Gavin said.

“I think giving it to the students is the way to go,” said Sara Smith, a first-year nursing student.

Sophomore Caroline Miller, who is studying radiology, said she would like to hear the administration’s thoughts on using the money for campus equipment or facilities upgrades instead.

“It would be interesting to see the [Board of Trustees’] thoughts on other things besides just scholarships,” she said.