Winners

There is always a good feeling about winning something, no matter the size of the reward. We’re all taught to be winners. It’s somewhat part of our culture. Today, more than ever, there are rankings: the number one auto dealer on the East coast, the number one travel destination, the best restaurant. Rankings and ratings are everywhere. Please do not allow me to pontificate on the BCS standings or on college football ranking. This is just not the season to discuss it, purely for personal reasons.

So how does an organization or a segment of the organization become recognized? Typically, there is some type of nomination process. To win the coveted Malcolm Baldridge quality award there is a huge qualification process. Those who have become involved in that process contend it is as beneficial to participate in the process as it is to win the actual top recognition. I like that. We could extend that same conversation to the academic accreditation process. In that spirit, I’m glad we recognize winning.

Today, we recognize winners at TCL. Our organization is very proud of our PILAU team. Take a look at the TCL website (www.tcl.edu) for the complete story. This group of committed leaders was recognized nationally by winning an award at a conference in Denver. What everyone does not know about this program, and perhaps others, is that there are a host of planned initiatives that led to the recognition and the reality of how this program is making a difference by encouraging African-American men to graduate from an academic program of study. Sounds simple. It’s not, and hence the deserved recognition.

The winners in this program are our students, and students are the core of our enterprise on which all activities are focused. Thank you, PILAU team, for your daily work which is now recognized by the world. We’re all proud of you for making TCL special and for reminding us why we are here: to build a better community through learning.