Congratulations to the 2024-2025 Innovation of the Year Award winners from 35 participating League member colleges! The League initiated the Innovation of the Year Award over 35 years ago to recognize local community college programs and initiatives that reflect the spirit of innovation and experimentation on which our organization was founded. The award provides an opportunity for colleges to showcase their innovative efforts; celebrate the dedicated educators, staff, and administrators who are responsible for this exceptional work; and promote a culture of innovation at their institutions.

Some of this year’s winning innovations are described below. Click here for a full list. Individual institution pages provide details about award winners.

Not a member? Learn about how your college can participate in League Awards here.

Community College of Allegheny County

Virtual Campus Digital Studio and Support Services

The Virtual Campus Digital Studio empowers faculty with advanced tools for creating high-quality digital content to enhance online courses and digital information. Specialized audio rooms and a comprehensive video studio facilitate podcasts, voiceovers, interactive lectures, and live streaming. Self-service technology includes preset cameras, teleprompters, green screens, and ClearTouch monitors. Support services emphasize teaching effectiveness, providing training, instructional design consultation, student outreach, and accessibility resources, creating an innovative, efficient, and effective learning environment. The Virtual Campus also provides faculty support services. Learn more here.

Hillsborough Community College

Empowering Future-Ready Professionals Through Financial Technology Education

The FinTech program, launched in spring 2025, is the first of its kind in Florida and one of only two in the U.S. offered at the two-year college level. This innovative program prepares students for high-demand careers in financial technology by combining finance; data; and cutting-edge tools like blockchain, AI, and digital payments. Courses are hands-on, data-driven, and career-focused, developed with input from industry leaders and aligned with Florida’s workforce priorities. This program is redefining career pathways and academic innovation for the next generation. Learn more here.

Institute of Technical Education

IoT-Enabled Smart and Scalable Solutions for Carbon Footprint Reduction and Sustainable Living

The need for effective power consumption monitoring and operational anomaly detection is more critical than ever. An IoT-enabled smart and scalable solution has been developed to address this challenge. The solution utilises nonintrusive edge devices equipped with long-range communication modules to monitor power consumption in real time. It significantly reduces carbon footprints and enhances sustainability and has been successfully implemented at various locations, resulting in significant cost savings through more efficient energy usage while also promoting sustainable living on a larger scale. Learn more here.

Maricopa Community Colleges – Glendale Community College

Gaucho Security Operations Center

The Gaucho Security Operations Center (GSOC) is a unique, nationally recognized cybersecurity program that provides an opportunity for students to serve a paid internship at the end of their associate’s degree program, giving them up to 300 hours of experience in a live security operations center upon graduation. GSOC provides cybersecurity as a service to rural municipalities that fall at or below the cybersecurity poverty line. These governmental entities require continuous cybersecurity monitoring but do not have the resources to supply it. Learn more here.

Sinclair Community College

Great Minds Behavioral Health Workforce Expansion

State of Ohio Behavioral Health Workforce Expansion Program funding paved the way to create sustainable support for the Social Work program. Through enhanced and intensive career awareness, student recruitment, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community partnerships, the innovation will support continued growth and expansion of the behavioral health workforce. This endeavor to fill demand is showcased in efforts to reach underrepresented populations, including the development of an informational and interactive website, creation of student-led podcasts with industry professionals, and more. Learn more here.

Tallahassee State College

TSC Propel: Professional Development for Institutional Excellence

The Professional Development for Institutional Excellence framework enhances professional growth, fosters collaboration, and aligns employee training with the college's strategic plan through a data-driven, impactful approach. It is built on survey-driven decision-making, strategic workshop planning, resource optimization, technology-integrated learning, and a culture of engagement. The framework includes four professional development tracks and annual surveys identify key training needs, ensuring that offerings remain relevant. Since its inception, the framework has engaged 278 employees in structured training. Learn more here.

Wake Technical Community College

Amgen Apprenticeship Program in Biotechnology

The Amgen Apprenticeship Program is an innovative initiative that integrates curriculum, workforce education, and customized training to meet the biopharmaceutical industry's changing talent needs. This six-month program allows apprentices to earn a full-time wage while studying, thereby removing financial barriers and promoting equitable access. Participants gain valuable skills in biomanufacturing with real-world industry exposure leading to positive outcomes for learners and employers. The program's success has already inspired interest from other biotech partners by responding to workforce shortages in a growing sector. Learn more here.