Congratulations to the 2025-2026 Innovation of the Year Award winners from 26 participating League member colleges! The League established the Innovation of the Year Awards almost 45 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 featured below. Click here for a full list. Individual institution pages provide details about award winners and associated innovators.

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

Carroll Community College

Summer Workforce Academy

The Summer Workforce Academy is a cohort-based workforce exploration and career readiness program developed in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Carroll County. The program is designed as a community-facing opportunity, offering early exposure to career pathways and the college environment rather than serving as a recruitment initiative. Students participate in hands-on career exploration, labor market-informed learning, workplace readiness activities, and extended time on campus, building confidence, awareness, and familiarity with college and career options. Learn more here.

Delta College

Milestone Project: An Innovative Retention Model for First-Time-in-Any-College Students

In response to declining fall-to-fall retention for full-time, first-time-in-any-college students, the advising team reframed student success as something the institution could influence early through structured support and momentum in the first year. Team members focused on early credit momentum, gateway course completion, and term-to-term persistence. In summer 2025, all advisors completed Appreciative Advising training through grant support and earned Certified Appreciative Advisor status. These combined efforts contributed to measurable progress. Learn more here.

Middlesex Community College

Theatre Partnership for Young Audiences

This regional cross-institutional collaboration was designed to strengthen theatre education through shared resources, mentorship, and experiential learning. By linking a community college, a professional regional theatre, and a public university, the partnership creates sustainable pathways that support student success and workforce development in the arts. Key accomplishments include the development and production of Theatre for Young Audiences; the establishment of student internship opportunities; and exposure to multiple career pathways in theatre. Learn more here.

Northland Pioneer College

Environmental Policy Meets Biology Learning Community

By combining biology and political science, the Environmental Policy Meets Biology Learning Community team provided students with a holistic education in environmental issues. Students engaged with guest speakers, natural landscapes, and political theory to grow as thoughtful scholars and citizens. The approach gave students unique experiences in NPC’s diverse service area and information about the scientific and sociopolitical realities of life within the various climates, promoting local engagement, critical thinking, and global awareness. Learn more here.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic

Redesigning Wild Rice Harvesting Equipment to Support Indigenous Economic Growth

Local knowledge, lived experience, and community priorities formed the foundation for an innovative new wild rice harvesting boat design. Working with Indigenous wild rice producers, the team designed, built, and tested prototype harvester boats that integrate modern engines for efficiency and repairability, GPS technology, bespoke attachments, and a refined hull design. The redesigned boats address producers’ priorities by doubling harvesting capacity, improving fuel efficiency, increasing operator safety, and ensuring ease of maintenance and repair. Learn more here.

St. Louis Community College

Strengthening Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Support

The Missouri Suicide Prevention Coalition was established to provide targeted outreach for high-risk populations, expand access to culturally competent mental health services, deliver campuswide education and awareness campaigns, and increase training for faculty and staff. The coalition provided psychoeducation, crisis protocol flowcharts, a Mental Health and Wellness Fair, and weekly meetings to assess high-risk students, resulting in a 300% increase in completion of a free online suicide prevention training and an increase in students seeking campus counseling services. Learn more here.

Lead image: 2025-2026 innovators from Wake Technical Community College