MUSCLE SHOALS & PHIL CAMPBELL, ALA. — Lumina Foundation announced this week that Northwest Shoals Community College (NWSCC) was selected as one of 10 finalists for The Million Dollar Community College Challenge, a national grant opportunity supporting brand building and marketing for community colleges. 

“The Million Dollar Community College Challenge is all about promoting the opportunities at community colleges and connecting adults to higher education,” said Shauna Davis, strategy director for community college participation. “The 10 finalists each submitted a compelling vision for making vital campus to community connections and creative ideas for promoting their college’s brand.” 

“It is so exciting to be selected as one of 10 finalists from hundreds of submissions across the country,” said NWSCC President Dr. Jeff Goodwin. “We have a passion for educating our community, and we want our prospective adult students to know that college is for everyone and we are working to remove any barriers that might hold them back.” 

The 10 finalists are: 

  1. College of Eastern Idaho 
  2. Community College of Rhode Island 
  3. County College of Morris 
  4. Great Falls College Montana State University 
  5. Houston Community College 
  6. Long Beach City College 
  7. Madera Community College 
  8. Madison Area Technical College 
  9. Minnesota State College Southeast 
  10. Northwest Shoals Community College 

Once the grant process is completed, one college will receive $1 million, plus technical assistance to develop actionable brand building and marketing strategies. Nine colleges will receive $100,000 each, plus technical assistance. 

Round two and the final stage of the grant competition will require each college to create a brief video narrative that communicates what their college promises to adult students. 

The million-dollar winner will be named in August. For more information about the challenge, please visit luminafoundation.org/challenge/