Patrick & Henry Community College has earned a place among the finest two-year institutions in the United States. The college has been named as one of just 10 finalists for the 2027 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence — the nation’s signature recognition for community colleges.
P&HCC staff and faculty show their enthusiasm after the announcement
The Aspen Prize, which carries $1 million in award funds, is awarded every two years and recognizes colleges that achieve high and improving levels of student success in teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, and workforce success. It has been described by former U.S. President Barrak Obama as “basically the Oscars for great community colleges.”
The road to becoming a finalist was long and competitive. The selection process began in October 2025, when the Aspen Institute assessed nearly 1,000 community colleges nationwide and invited 200 to apply. From the 170 that submitted applications, a 15-member independent selection committee narrowed the field to 25 semifinalists, and ultimately to the 10 finalists chosen based on comprehensive outcomes data and evidence of the institutional practices that produced those results. P&HCC stood out in particular for its high and improving credential completion rates, which are well above the national average of 37% of students completing a community college credential within four years.
P&HCC President Dr. Greg Hodges shared his reaction after receiving the news. “When I received the call from the Executive Director of the College Excellence Program at the Aspen Institute informing us that we had been named finalists for the Aspen Award, I was, of course, deeply honored,” he said. “I was immensely proud of our faculty and staff, whose dedication and perseverance made this recognition possible. Most importantly, I was thrilled for our students, whose success stands at the center of everything we do.”
Hodges added the distinction also serves as an affirmation — that a relatively small institution in rural Southside Virginia can achieve transformational change on a significant scale. “Through bold vision, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to the “College 3.0 Framework,” we have positioned P&HCC not only as a center of learning, but also as a driving force for economic growth, workforce development, and regional prosperity. It is both gratifying and inspiring to see our collective efforts recognized on a national stage.”
Beginning this fall, teams of experts will conduct in-depth site visits to each of the 10 finalist institutions, and the Aspen Prize winner will be announced in April 2027. Whatever the final outcome, P&HCC’s selection as a finalist shines a national spotlight on a college that has long been a cornerstone of its service region.
