(KAIR)--It's a special recognition for Highland Community College, recognized by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona as one of the top 100 two-year colleges in the nation as part of what a release calls "the prestigious “Raise the Bar” initiative."

The honor, the release explains, "highlights the top institutions that excel in empowering students to transform their lives through education and workforce development" from among the nation's more than 1,100 community colleges across the country who award certificates and associate degrees.

HCC, in the release, cites pride in being among what it calls "this distinguished group," adding that it reaffirms HCC's "commitment to student success and career advancement."

HCC President Vincent Bowhay, in the release, calls it "an honor" to be named on the list, adding that HCC, as an institution is "focused on collegewide success strategies that deliver results while providing the skills and credentials that help students achieve their dreams.”

Through the Postsecondary Success Recognition Program, launched in April 2024, the Department of Education identified the recognized institutions using publicly available data to measure performance on key indicators related to equitable access, success, and post-college outcomes at public and non-profit institutions across the country. The metrics consider the extent to which institutions enroll low-income students and students of color in their state; help those students graduate or transfer successfully; and prepare them to enter the career of their choice and enjoy upward mobility, including recouping their costs and earning a premium over high school graduates in their state.