Call us overly proud. But we’ve long thought of Copiah-Lincoln Community College as being among one of the best things Southwest Mississippi has going for it.

Decades ago community colleges were considered where you went if you couldn’t afford a “real” college. That’s certainly no longer the case, if it ever was.

Co-Lin — both the main campus in Wesson and the Natchez campus — represents the future of education in our area.

While people seeking the big university experience will always likely exist, we believe increasingly more and more people will turn to more local, regional education centers such as Co-Lin to help them retool their job skills throughout their careers.

We’re not alone in thinking Co-Lin is among the best of the best.

The Aspen Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based education and policy studies organization — recently named Co-Lin to its list of 150 top schools.

It’s the first time Co-Lin has been named to the list.

While the award provides Co-Lin with some great public legitimacy, it’s not necessary for most of us familiar with the school and its leadership.

Co-Lin provides a great deal of civic and economic benefit to our corner of the world. We’re proud of the school and in particular its recent recognition.