GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — A Nebraska community college has earned a gold rating for sustainability.

Central Community College announced the honor on Thursday. The STARS rating comes from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

CCC President Dr. Matt Gotschall says the school earned a bronze rating in 2017 and a silver rating in 2020. The gold status ranks CCC in the top five associate colleges for sustainability in the country.

A news release says the school’s goals include carbon neutrality by 2034. An ongoing initiative has resulted in an overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent since 2014. 

“We are very proud to have achieved a STARS GOLD rating for our sustainability accomplishments,” Environmental Sustainability Director Ben Newton said. “The Central Community College administration, faculty, staff and students have all been key to helping our sustainability efforts grow and improve by tracking collective efforts by our team through the STARS program. For central Nebraska and beyond, we believe environmental sustainability is important and necessary for healthy communities, people and economic sustainability.”