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FVCC President Receives National Community College Award

Karas was chosen for the award from a pool of five finalists from community colleges around the nation

By Beacon Staff
Flathead Valley Community College President Jane Karas, pictured Sept. 12, 2016. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon

Flathead Valley Community College President Jane Karas is the recipient of the 2016 Marie Y. Martin Chief Executive Award from the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT).

Karas was chosen for the award from a pool of five finalists from community colleges around the nation. She received the award at ACCT’s 47th Annual Leadership Congress in New Orleans on Oct. 7.

The Marie Y. Martin Chief Executive Award recognizes the most distinguished community college president in the country. Earlier this year, Karas received ACCT’s Chief Executive Award for the Western Region, making her a contender for the national award.

The award is named in honor of Marie Y. Martin, who served as director of the Community College Unit, U.S. Office of Education and as a chief executive in the Los Angeles Community District. Karas was selected for the award based upon her initiation of innovative programs at FVCC, her work to maximize opportunities for FVCC students to be successful and her advocacy and service on behalf of two-year colleges in Montana and across the nation.

“Dr. Karas has guided our institution through its most dramatic period of growth and academic innovation,” FVCC Board of Trustees Chair Shannon Lund said. “She has worked to meet local workforce needs, including those in advanced manufacturing and healthcare, and has explored a wide range of specialized programs while ensuring that FVCC’s core academic programs are continually enhanced.”