By Jerome Tuaño
South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) has been recognized as the best community college in ShowCase Magazine’s Best of 2025 series, marking the second consecutive year the Olympia-based college has earned the honor.
“This back-to-back recognition speaks volumes about the dedication of our faculty, staff, and students. It’s a powerful affirmation of our mission to deliver exceptional education and foster a welcoming, inclusive community where everyone can thrive,” SPSCC President Dr. Timothy Stokes said in a statement.
SPSCC said it serves more than 5,000 students pursuing a range of goals every year. Its students benefit from small class sizes and modern facilities, as they take on what the college calls “Pathways,” structured programs that guide students toward employment.
Showcase Magazine, based in Edgewood, is a lifestyle and culture publication focused on the Puget Sound region. Its Best of 2025 series celebrates local organizations that have brought a lasting impact to the community.
Categories this year covered services, shopping, health and wellness, food and drink, and entertainment. In determining the winners, readers were asked in April to participate in a poll to award the best organizations across 78 categories.
The only other nominee in the best community college category was Pierce College, which operates campuses in Puyallup and Fort Steilacoom, Lakewood.
SPSCC said the award comes a few months after the Aspen Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, named the college among the top 10 finalists for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence in June.