Former NAU President Dr. Eugene Hughes has been awarded the Coconino Community College Distinguished Service Award for 2016.

Flagstaff, AZ (Sept. 12, 2016) — Northern Arizona University President Emeritus Dr. Eugene Hughes has been selected as the 2016 recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Service Award at Coconino Community College.

Dr. Hughes was selected for his outstanding contribution to the mission of Coconino Community College.

"Dr. Hughes' strong sense of service to the community and his steadfast belief in the power of education encouraged the founding of CCC and helped make the College what it is today," said CCC President Colleen A. Smith, Ph.D. "I am honored and proud to be able to present the CCC Distinguished Service Award to him."

Dr. Hughes first came to NAU in 1970 to be Dean of Arts and Sciences. When President J. Lawrence Walkup retired as NAU's president in 1979, Hughes took over as president from 1979 to 1993. During that period, he was instrumental in helping with the formation of Coconino Community College in 1991. Dr. Hughes even loaned Dr. John Glenn, NAU Dean of Continuing Education and Director of Summer and Instructional TV Programs, to CCC to be the fledgling community college's first president.

In a book on CCC's history, Hughes stated, "I myself am a graduate of community college and recognize the value of it. Had it not been for a community college in my hometown, I would not have been able to go to college."

After leaving NAU, Dr. Hughes went on to be president at Wichita State University in Kansas and interim president of Eastern Kentucky University. He spent more than 40 years in higher education before retiring. He continues service work within his community.

The CCC Distinguished Service Award recognizes outstanding service, leadership and support to the College and to the educational enrichment of Coconino County. Nominees must be a resident of Coconino County at the time of nomination, and they must have affected or substantially contributed a major accomplishment for the benefit of CCC and to the educational enrichment of district residents. The award is normally given to one recipient annually, and any resident of the county may nominate a person for the award. Current members of the CCC District Governing Board and individuals employed by the College are exempt from nomination.

In previous years, the award was presented in May during CCC's Commencement Ceremony. This year, President Smith chose to present the award during the CCC Foundation Annual Meeting.

Dr. Hughes will receive the Distinguished Service Award during the CCC Foundation Annual Meeting, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, at the CCC Lone Tree Campus, 2800 S. Lone Tree Road, in Flagstaff. Tickets are still available. For tickets, visit http://www.coconinofoundation.org.

About Coconino Community College
Student success is the heart and purpose of Coconino Community College. CCC provides affordable tuition and a wide variety of certificates and degrees including career/technical programs with nearly 50 certificate programs and two-year associate degrees in various fields including nursing, fire science, law enforcement and business. The award-winning CCC2NAU program provides an innovative way to smooth a student's path toward a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University with tailored advisement and institutional collaboration, including access to amenities at NAU.

Since 1991, CCC has served residents across 18,000 square miles of Coconino County. CCC has helped create the region's skilled workforce, which is improving overall health, safety and the economy in the region. Today, CCC serves more than 7,500 students per year with two campuses in Flagstaff.

CCC reaches out to the more rural portions of the County including Williams, the Grand Canyon/Tusayan, Page/Lake Powell, Fredonia, Tuba City and other remote areas on the Navajo, Hopi and Supai Tribal Lands. Instructional sites offer classes through online, in-person and Interactive Television classes to meet the needs of students in these rural and remote areas. Nearly 25 percent of CCC's students are Native American learners.