Stan Jones founded Complete College America in 2009 and was President for eight years, getting 42 members to join the Alliance.

In 2016, CCA created an annual award to be given to a deserving recipient during the annual convening called the CCA President’s Award for “Uncommon Leadership” in national college completion efforts. That initial year, the award was given to the University of Hawai’i System.

After Stan passed away in 2017, CCA staff re-named the annual President’s Award to the Stan Jones Legacy Award.

The Stan Jones Legacy Award is now given to the individual, organization, or state that has consistently embodied the vision of Complete College America and works toward achieving the goal to increase the number of students who earn credentials of value.

Please see recipients of the award below:

2016 | University of Hawai’i System

2017 | Dr. Allen Maxwell

2018 | Charles Ansell and Dr. Donna Linderman

2019 | Dr. Lawrence (Larry) G. Abele

2022 | Dr. Estela Mara Bensimon

2023 | Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education

2024 | Dr. Tristan Denley