Since 2004, achieving the Dream has been working to help community college students complete their studies and go on to make their hopes become realities.
Education is a key to economic achievement in today's world. Those who start, continue and finish their educational goals get better jobs at higher salaries. That helps boost the economies in the communities where they lives. And also helps their children go on to even greater success.
ATD works with a network of more than 200 community colleges across the country. And each year they give the Leah Meyer Austin Award for outstanding performance.
The award recognizes colleges "a college that employs a holistic approach to reducing achievement gaps between student groups and increasing success for all," according to the ATD website.
And this year, our own Texarkana College was one of only two winners of the award for 2018.
It wasn't that long ago that few would have predicted TC would win such an honor. But under the leadership of President James Henry Russell, the board of trustees and the faculty and staff, TC has made a remarkable turnaround. So much so the school is now recognized by ATD as a leader in working to improve outcomes for its students And isn't that what college is all about?
We congratulate Texarkana College for its outstanding accomplishment. And we wish them even greater success in the future.