Dear CCBA Essay Contest Participant,

We are pleased to report that we received a record number of essays from more than half the states and several foreign countries. The level of interest in improving access to four-year degrees through community colleges is at a new high.

It was not easy to choose finalists because so many of the submissions were outstanding. I encourage anyone who was not a finalist or this year’s winner to submit again next season.

Thanks for participating and best of luck in all your educational endeavors.

Dr. Hagan

Winner

Matthew Keeslar
Portland Community College, Portland, Oregon

Finalists

Alicia Cox
Vincennes University, Vincennes, Indiana

Jeremy Hayden
Georgian College of Applied Arts and Technology, Barrie, Ontario, Canada

Gary Holloway
Lurleen B. Wallace Community College, Greenville, Alabama

Adaobi Obika
Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, North Carolina

Chris Roll
Missouri State University – West Plains, Couch, Missouri

Miguel Tapia
College of the Desert, Palm Desert, California

Rebekah Stringfellow
St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg, Florida

Dujuan Walker
Milwaukee Area Technical College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Sarah Zelitt
Douglas College, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Deborah Dunham Alt
Mid-South Community College, West Memphis, Arkansas