Two events have me thinking: the college admissions scandal and Florida’s legislative session.

First, the scandal that claimed the reputation of celebrity parents including actors Lori Laughlin and Felicity Huffman. By now, we know the story: Laughlin, Huffman and other wealthy families are accused of paying top dollar to illegally get their children into college. Mind you, there were hundreds of other higher educational options that would readily admit their offspring. Instead, prosecutors say, mom and dad chose the few that wouldn’t and promptly plunked down millions to falsify test scores and admission applications.

So, what has this got to do with our state’s current legislative session? Currently, our elected officials are convening in Tallahassee with one primary purpose: determine the state budget. As such, legislators make new laws and amend existing ones. They, too, have access to higher education on their mind. In fact, recent legislative sessions have allocated historic appropriations to our state university system to elevate the system to a preeminent level with the best of the nation’s public universities.

Unfortunately, our state community college system has not been a part of the state’s generosity. A quick history lesson: Florida’s community colleges were originally designed to provide access to all citizens, rural and urban. This is why you’ll find a college within driving distance wherever you live, from Miami to Pensacola. This system is all about access with impressive results providing an educated and skilled workforce. Yet, the numbers don’t add up when you look at state appropriations. Our university system is funded significantly more than community colleges, the latter who serves more students with less resources.

There are several reasons for this, but I believe a key influencer is perception. We create notions of what is prestigious, preeminent, if you will. Universities seem to have an inherent reputational gravitas; community colleges, not so much.

As a high school senior eons ago, I had my heart set to attend a nearby university. My family couldn’t afford out-of-town expenses, especially when Central Florida Community College, a top-notch community college, was in my backyard. My parents had a few tough love conversations with me to manage expectations about my college future. So, I acted my age, meaning, I protested, pouted, declared my life would be ruined if I “had to go” to CF.

Fast forward 30 years later: I can’t imagine what I would have become if I had not attended a community college. A glimpse: I went to CF on full scholarship, worked at a law firm, was elected as CF’s student government president, served as assistant editor of the college newspaper, sang in the college musical ensemble, and made new friends.

The college’s faculty were highly engaged with students. They took an interest in me. I wasn’t a number in a large lecture hall. In fact, one of my CF professors nominated me for a graduate school scholarship that paid for my graduate degree at a state university. He, and other faculty, later paved the way for me to return to work at CF and, later, Santa Fe, where I enjoyed a 20-year career as an administrator and professor.

Without a doubt, I would not be who I am or where I am today if not for my experience at CF, now known as the College of Central Florida. Oh, and by the way, I had a seamless transition as a junior at the university, both academically and socially. I didn’t miss out, I lucked out that my parents held firm.

If only Laughlin and Huffman would have done the same. There are some mighty fine community colleges in California, too. Most offer courses on ethics, a subject I highly recommend for these parents and children alike.

Circling back to legislators. Here’s my fervent plea to our elected officials in session: please remember the public college system when you’re appropriating funds. They are excellent stewards of state dollars. They provide quantifiable returns on your investment with a diverse, educated, highly skilled workforce. They provide access to all. They are economic and cultural drivers enriching our communities and state. They are a proven success story, repeatedly doing more with less, but this isn’t a sustainable model. It is time to bring these colleges to the forefront of priority spending.

You want preeminent? You’ve already got it with Florida’s community colleges, a system on which other states model their higher education institutions. If preeminent means delivering superior outcomes again and again, look no further than a college in your area. They won’t be hard to find: you reap the benefit of their product — also known as graduates — every single day where you live, work and legislate.