Columbus, Ohio - Franklin University, the Columbus-based educator known for providing educational opportunities and choices for working adults, announced Darrel W. Staat, President, Central Virginia Community College (CVCC), in Virginia, has been chosen as the recipient of the 9th annual Community College Alliance Leadership award. (A formal presentation of the award will take place later this year at CVCC).

Franklin University President, Dr. David Decker, heralded Staat as the perfect choice for this year's award, citing his dedication to making CVCC more accessible to the community through his development of several off-campus centers. This willingness to provide educational opportunities in a manner that allows students to stay in their own communities while advancing their education and career goals is the same model Franklin employs with the more than 245 community colleges it serves in its Community College Alliance (CCA).

This commitment to providing access to the community is evidenced in the establishment of the CVCC Center in Appomattox last June, and the opening of the CVCC Amherst Center scheduled for later this year. CVCC's expansion, under Staat's supervision, began nearly a decade ago with centers opening in Altavista (2001), Brookneal (2002), and in Bedford (2005).

Decker further praised Staat for his work on local boards (including his current position as Chair of the Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce) as a means of encouraging collaboration with local businesses, and the successful negotiation of articulation programs that benefit students moving on to four-year institutions.

The CCA Leadership Award is awarded annually to a president in CCA who has exhibited extraordinary vision for their college and community, leadership in higher education, and dedication to the continuance and development of CCA.

Past Community College Alliance Leadership Award recipients include: Dr. Ken Ender, President of Cumberland County College; Willis Lott, President of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College; Jean Goodnow, President Delta College (MI); David Pierce, President-Emeritus, AACC; Val Moeller, President of Columbus State Community College; Morris Beverage, President of Lakeland Community College (OH); Larry Dukes, President-Emeritus of Southern State Community College (OH); and Al Lorenzo, President of Macomb Community College (MI).