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FROM STAFF REPORTS

NORTH SHELBY – Jefferson State Community College was selected as one of the grantees of Lumina Foundation’s mini-grant opportunity and first-ever Instagram challenge. A total of seven community colleges have been awarded $50,000 each to enhance their digital outreach and marketing efforts.

Jefferson State’s engaging Instagram Reel showcased the exceptional value and vibrant experiences offered by the college, helping the college stand out among over 100 entries from public, accredited two-year institutions nationwide.

The following colleges were selected as winners:

• Jefferson State Community College, Alabama
• Ohlone College, California
• Ocean County College, New Jersey
• Community College of Beaver County, Pennsylvania
• State University of New York,  Niagara, New York
• Owens Community College, Ohio
• Chaffey College, California

“Jefferson State is excited and grateful to receive the grant from Lumina Foundation, and we are especially proud to be the only recipient in the Southeastern United States,” Jefferson State Director of Communications David Bobo said. “The grant will provide significant resources for our marketing team to create new initiatives to share the many programs and opportunities available at Jefferson State.”

The Instagram challenge invited community colleges to create a 90-second Reel, highlighting why their college is the best choice for practicality, convenience and excellence. By participating, Jefferson State aimed to showcase #WhatsExcellent about the college and demonstrate the vibrant experiences and opportunities available to our students.

“For the past two years, Lumina has engaged in a national conversation about understanding and strengthening community college brands,” said Mary Laphen Pope, Lumina’s strategy officer for participation. “While discussions often focus on challenges such as enrollment declines, success stories about community colleges and their students are rarely highlighted. We aim to change that.”

Community colleges embody the dreams and aspirations of our communities, offering excellent student services, beautiful campus facilities, heartfelt community engagement and dynamic classroom experiences. Jefferson State is excited to continue sharing amazing stories and highlighting the diverse and profound impact of a community college education.

“We were excited to offer this mini-grant opportunity and so impressed by all the outstanding video reels we received. We hope this initiative will help shift the narrative around community colleges and all that they offer,” Laphen Pope said.

Lumina invites community colleges to continue sharing stories and highlighting excellent work. For more information about the mini-grant challenge and to apply for future opportunities, visit Lumina’s Challenge Page.