in the dual enrollment state program to allow students to take college classes at a discount while in a public high school. They host the Clark Advanced Learning Center, a technology-based high school, as a joint venture between the Martin County School District and IRSC. In September 2014, the college was named as one of the ten best community colleges in the United States by the Aspen Institute. In 2018, the college was regarded runner-up for the best state college in the United States by the Aspen Institute. Then again in 2019, it won another from the Aspen Institute, for the #1 best state college in the United States, tied with Miami Dade College in Miami, FL. In 2022, the college began the "Promise Program", which offered tuition-free associate degrees to Treasure Coast and Okeechobee county area public high school graduates. The program resulted in a larger freshman class at IRSC campus. Athletics The college athletic teams, which are nicknamed the Pioneers, compete in the Southern Conference of the Florida State College Activities Association, a body of the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 8. The college has a very successful swimming and diving team. Indian River men's swimming and diving team has won 48 straight NJCAA swimming and diving championships, and the women's team has won 41 straight national championships. With 48 consecutive wins, IRSC currently holds the title to the longest unbroken U.S. championship winning streak in any sport at the collegiate level. The women's team brought home their 44th overall title and extended their consecutive titles to 41. Notable people Mike Bianco, Head coach of the University of Mississippi baseball team Sion Brinn, Olympic swimmer Rob Cordemans, Olympic baseball player for the Netherlands Michael Marrone, heavyweight boxer Omar Mateen, Islamic terrorist and mass murderer who perpetrated the Pulse Orlando nightclub shooting John McCormack, college baseball coach at Florida Atlantic Rusty Meacham, professional baseball player Breanna Myles, Miss Teen USA 2021 Angel Pagán, professional baseball player Steve Pearce, professional baseball player Ralph Poppell, member of the Florida House of Representatives Fabrizio Scaccia, professional football player Luke Scott, professional baseball player Cory Spangenberg, professional baseball player Gordon Touw Ngie Tjouw, Olympic swimmer Jonny Venters, professional baseball player References External links Florida College System Fort Pierce, Florida Schools in St. Lucie County, Florida Two-year colleges in the United States Education in Indian River County, Florida Education in Martin County, Florida