FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pikes Peak State College Named One of Only Two HEED Award Champions in the Nation
National distinction recognizes PPSC for making academic excellence, student success and belonging part of the college experience.
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – Sept. 10, 2026 – Pikes Peak State College has been named a 2026 Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award Champion by Insight Into Academia magazine, making PPSC one of only two colleges in the nation to earn the Champion distinction this year.
The Champion designation represents an elevated level of recognition within the annual HEED Awards, which honor U.S. colleges and universities for their commitment to academic excellence, belonging and community-building. PPSC is also a 2026 HEED Award recipient and will be featured in the October 2026 issue of Insight Into Academia.
For PPSC, the recognition reflects college-wide work to turn access into student success by addressing the academic, financial and personal barriers that can prevent students from reaching their goals.
“Putting students first isn’t just something we say, it’s how we show up for every student, every day,” said Dr. Lance Bolton, President of Pikes Peak State College. “To be one of only two colleges receiving this honor is a powerful recognition of that commitment and of the PPSC faculty and staff who bring it to life.”
Turning commitment into measurable student support
PPSC serves more than 15,000 students. Nearly half, 47.1%, identify as first-generation students, 38.5% are Pell Grant eligible and 10.9% are veterans.
The college has invested in programs that address barriers inside and outside the classroom. During the 2025-26 academic year, PPSC’s Promise scholarship programs served more than 700 students and provided more than $870,000 toward tuition and fees. About 60% of participating students identified as first-generation, and approximately half identified as Hispanic/Latino.
Students also reported strong results from the Promise programs: 93% said they found value in the coaching they received and 95% said they would recommend the program.
PPSC launched its First Nations Promise Program in fall 2025, providing last-dollar scholarships as well as personalized coaching and mentoring for enrolled tribal members. During its first year, the program provided more than $101,000 in tuition assistance to Native American students.
The college has also expanded its response to basic-needs challenges. From July 2025 through April 2026, PPSC’s Canvas Community Food Pantries recorded 40,981 visits. More than 5,700 people accessed free food through Mobile Food Market events during the spring semester, and Single Stop connected 455 participants with academic and nonacademic basic-needs resources as of April 30.
Since March 2025, PPSC has also provided approximately 645 students with more than $350,000 in computer and laptop subsidies, helping students access the technology they need for their education.
Building systems that help students stay and succeed
PPSC created its first Department of Retention in 2024 to strengthen student onboarding, financial literacy and early intervention.
The college’s expanded early intervention system has significantly increased connections between students, faculty and support services. Faculty and instructor responses to student progress reports grew from 3,739 in fiscal year 2023-24 to 8,092 in fiscal year 2024-25. Individual referrals and positive student recognition increased from 1,175 to 5,349 during the same period.
PPSC has also expanded in-person New Student Kickoff events, which connect students with financial aid, technology, academic resources, employment opportunities and campus organizations. Participation increased from 65 new students in fall 2025 to 125 in spring 2026.
The college’s commitment extends to accessibility. PPSC provides accessible instructional materials, sign language interpreters, real-time captioning and individualized support. The college is also implementing GoodMaps, an indoor navigation platform designed to give people greater independence in navigating campus through features including voice commands and multiple languages.
These efforts are part of a broader institutional strategy that embeds student success and belonging into academic programs, student services, hiring, professional development and college planning.
“We use a detailed scoring process as well as a holistic approach to reviewing each application to determine who will be named a HEED Award recipient. Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where academic excellence and belonging are woven into the work being done every day across their campus,” said Lenore Pearlstein, co-publisher of Insight Into Academia magazine.
PPSC has also earned recognition as a First Generation-Serving Institution from the Colorado Department of Higher Education and as a 2026-27 Military Friendly School with a Silver designation. The college was also named a Military Spouse Friendly School.
The 2026 HEED Award Champion distinction adds national recognition to that work and highlights PPSC’s approach to creating a college where access, support and opportunity work together to help students succeed.
For more information about the HEED Award, visit insightintoacademia.com.
About Pikes Peak State College (PPSC):
Established in 1968 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Pikes Peak offers associate degrees, certificates in career and technical fields and a growing number of bachelors’ degrees. With four campuses, various off-campus locations, two military education centers, and hundreds of online classes, PPSC provides access to a quality, affordable and flexible education to more than 17,000 students annually with both credit and non-credit classes.
About Insight Into Academia
Insight Into Academia magazine advances best practices in higher education excellence. Through print and online reporting, the publication shares expert advice, resources, profiles of college and university programs and higher education news. Current, archived and digital issues are available at insightintoacademia.com.