Highland Community College recently hosted Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie for a campus visit, where she kicked off the day by meeting with members of the Student Government before touring several newly updated academic spaces.
Right now, Highland is also in the running for the prestigious $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence—a national recognition of top-tier institutions with strong, measurable student outcomes. As one U.S. president put it, the Aspen Prize is “basically the Oscars for great community colleges,” and Highland’s nomination speaks volumes about the college’s impact on student success and regional workforce development.
The visit began in the Welcome Center, where students greeted Leader McCombie and introduced her to President Chris Kuberski and Liz Gerber, Vice President of Student Development & Support Services. They outlined Highland’s student-first mission and the broad range of services designed to help every student succeed.
From there, she stepped into the expanding eSports arena to see the state-of-the-art equipment and collaborative setup fueling Highland’s competitive gaming program, another example of the college adapting to emerging interests and new academic pathways.
In the Student/Conference Center, she viewed Highland’s new photography collection, a showcase of student creativity that brings fresh energy to the space.
Leader McCombie then toured the newly renovated science labs with Dr. Brendan Dutmer, Dean of Natural Science and Mathematics. He highlighted the cutting-edge tools and hands-on learning that support STEM students and elevate instruction across the department.
At the Dorothy & RC Clock Technology Center, Dr. Matt Magee, Dean of Agriculture, Business, and Technology, walked through the college’s manufacturing and welding programs, critical pipelines for high-demand workforce needs across the region.
The final stop was the Sports Center, where Michael Broskowski, Highland’s new Director of Athletics and Physical Education, shared updates on athletics and the vision for a proposed new athletic, learning, and event center that would serve both students and the broader community.
Leader McCombie enjoyed the hands-on tour and praised Highland Community College for its continued commitment to meeting the needs of its students and the region, recognition that is clearly reflected in their Aspen Prize consideration.
