Lakeshore Technical College a Top 10 Finalist for Bellwether Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

10/29/2021

CLEVELAND, WI —

For the third year, Lakeshore Technical College has been selected as a top 10 Bellwether Award finalist. This annual award recognizes leading institutions of higher education having outstanding and innovative programs and practices in community college education. It is considered one of the most elite awards given to community colleges. LTC is the only college in Wisconsin named as a finalist.
Bellwether Awards are given annually in three categories to colleges with cutting-edge, trendsetting programs or practices other colleges around the nation could find worth replicating. The Bellwether Awards are widely regarded as one of the nation’s most competitive and prestigious recognitions for community colleges. LTC is a finalist in the Workforce Development category for College Here & Now®, a program that provides high school students the opportunity to earn a college degree without leaving their high school. 

“Being recognized as a Bellwether finalist three out of the last four years shows the extent to which Lakeshore Technical College is innovating to support students, employers, and our community,” says LTC President Dr. Paul Carlsen. “We are honored College Here & Now is considered a national model of excellence, and greatly appreciate the community partnerships supporting the program.” 

College Here & Now launched in September 2019 as a collaborative effort between LTC, the Sheboygan Area School District; fall 2020 at Kiel High School; fall 2021 at Mishicot High School, Manitowoc Lincoln High School, and McKinley Academy with plans to continue expanding the program throughout the LTC district. 

In fall 2021, more than 230 students are currently participating in College Here & Now. They are taking college-level courses at their schools and are on their way to earning an LTC college degree in Information Technology – Web and Software Developer. Students completing the program will receive both their high school diploma and LTC degree at the same time – without ever having to leave their high school campus, take courses outside of the normal high school schedule, or pay tuition. The graduates can then choose to enter the workforce or continue their education at the college to earn the associate degree in Information Technology – Web and Software Developer and transfer their credits to Lakeland University where they are guaranteed junior status and able to earn their bachelor’s degree in computer science in only two years.

A team from LTC will compete at the 28th Annual  Community College Futures Assembly being held in January 2022 in San Antonio, Texas. One winner will be selected from each of the three categories by a panel of national experts.  The Bellwether Award is sponsored by the Alamo Colleges District in San Antonio, Texas.