Based on a decade of consistently improving student outcomes at Valencia College, first winner of the Aspen Prize for Excellence in Community Colleges, five lessons for connecting student and institutional purpose are described. These include: a focus on what students really experience, understanding the college as a bridge and not a destination, building into the whole college six essential experiences every student requires to be successful beginning with a New Student Experience, and keeping the question of Who ahead of What in our designs for students seeking purpose.