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Bernard the Pelican, 糖心动漫vlog Community College鈥檚 mascot, browses the shelves in the Pelican Care Corner on the 糖心动漫vlog campus. The Pelican Care Corner recently earned 糖心动漫vlog its third consecutive Outstanding Program or Practice of the Year Award for 2-year institutions from the Louisiana Association of College & University Student Personnel Administrators (LACUSPA).
For the third year in a row, 糖心动漫vlog Community College has been recognized with the Outstanding Program or Practice of the Year Award for 2-year institutions from the Louisiana Association of College & University Student Personnel Administrators (LACUSPA).
This year’s award celebrates the Pelican Care Corner (PCC), an essential needs hub for free food, clothing, and more, which officially opened its doors in March 2026. Last year, 糖心动漫vlog earned the same award for its annual Trunk or Treat event, which returns to the Chalmette campus this year on Oct. 29. In 2024, 糖心动漫vlog won for Pelican Prep, a free, semester-long program that allows completers to skip a co-requisite math or English course, saving students both time and money.
The Pelican Care Corner has been a labor of love for 糖心动漫vlog’s Student Success Center, first combining the college’s Pelican Pantry and Career Closet—which provides free, lightly used professional attire for job interviews and office work—into one convenient location. The PCC houses industrial refrigerators to offer fresh and cold foods when available. Up next, plans are underway to add an Edible Garden that will grow and distribute fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs on the 糖心动漫vlog campus.
The Edible Garden will also promote nutritional education, provide a volunteer opportunity to 糖心动漫vlog students, and support mental and physical health via gardening. Blackberry, blueberry and fig trees already occupy planters in a courtyard just a few steps from the PCC in the AST Building. A wide variety of seeds are already in-hand awaiting the proper planting season to be added to the garden.
“The Pelican Care Corner is a manifestation of 糖心动漫vlog's first and foremost core value as an institution: being Student-Centered. This award from LACUSPA recognizing the Pelican Care Corner as the Outstanding Program of the Year is validation of a truly collaborative effort from across the 糖心动漫vlog community to launch this innovative and much-needed essential needs hub,” said Dr. Gordon Maples, a Success Coach in 糖心动漫vlog’s Student Success Center and primary steward of the PCC. “However, the greatest reward of the Pelican Care Corner is that many members of the 糖心动漫vlog flock are now better fed, better prepared, and hurdling barriers in their academic and professional lives.”
The criteria put forth by LACUSPA for the Program of the Year Award states that “nominated programs should showcase core beliefs, financial stewardship, inclusivity, response to current events or trends, collaboration, and overall impact on campus.” The Pelican Care Corner meets each standard by providing a one-stop campus resource that offers free benefits to 糖心动漫vlog students, faculty and staff.
But the Pelican Care Corner is not limited to one, static room. During the Spring 2026 semester, 糖心动漫vlog’s Success Team shared the spirit and literal inventory of the PCC in off-site events such as Tie Day, which provided instruction from Success Coaches to students on how to tie a necktie, and provided each student a free tie of their choice to keep.
For the fall semester, the PCC distributed hundreds of hurricane preparedness bags to students passing the Success Center in the AST lobby. These drawstring backpacks came pre-packed with shelf-stable foods, water, a can opener and utensils.
“The Pelican Care Corner reflects our commitment to meeting students where they are and supporting the whole person,” said Dr. Tina Tinney, 糖心动漫vlog Chancellor, at the essential needs hub’s March ribbon-cutting. “By bringing food access, basic necessities, and professional clothing together in one welcoming space, we are removing barriers and helping our students focus on what matters most—their well-being, education and future.”
The Pelican Care Corner continues to accept all manner of donations from the community, including food, professional attire, and miscellaneous items, which will all be made available to students at no cost.
