Dear Everyone,Well, I hope you thought today’s news was worth the wait. For Santa Fe to be recognized by the Aspen Institute as one of the top community colleges in the country is no small matter. The Aspen Institute seeks to identify and promote best practices in higher education nationwide, and Santa Fe was selected as a finalist for their Community College Excellence award based on our overall record in many areas–our success in student completion, the rigor of our student learning outcomes, workforce partnerships and employment outcomes, and commitment to equity. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who contributed to the application, with special thanks to Bennye Alligood, Sheila Lucas, Dave Yonutas, Linda Nichols, and Gary Hartge, as well as all the VP staff who contributed in various ways to the application and to today’s celebration.Constitution DayMonday, September 17, is U.S. Constitution Day, and once again, the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department will offer a series of talks on constitutional issues. This year, even our Fulbright Scholar from Brazil is participating! Here’s this year’s round up:· Monday, September 17th, at 1 pm: Donna Waller, Professor Emerita of Political Science and History at Santa Fe College, “Never Take it for Granted: A Short History of Voting Rights.”· Tuesday, September 18th, at 2 pm: Regiani Aparecida Santos Zacarias, Visiting Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence and Assistant Professor, Sao Paolo State University, Brazil and Fulbright Scholar: “An Overview of the Brazilian Constitution and Comparison with the U.S. Constitution”· Wednesday, September 19th, at 2 pm: Jon Mills, Dean Emeritus and Professor of Law at the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law, “American Justice: The Importance of an Independent Judiciary.”Calling all Grad StudentsEach year the American Association of Colleges and Universities offers the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award, which recognizes graduate students who show exemplary promise as future leaders of higher education; whose work reflects a strong emphasis on teaching and learning; and who demonstrate a commitment to developing academic and civic responsibility in themselves and others. All doctoral-level graduate students planning a career in higher education are eligible, regardless of academic discipline. Graduate students in fields where the Master’s degree is the terminal degree, such as the MFA, are also eligible. (Nominees must hold student status in January 2013.) Applicants must demonstrate: Leadership ability or potential for exercising leadership in teaching and learning, with a strong commitment to academic and civic responsibility; and development of others as leaders, scholars, and citizens. Please go to the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders page for complete information. The deadline is October 1st.That’s all for this week, and congratulations to everyone on being a part of our outstanding college!Cheers,–Ed