The script reads like a comic book or superhero film: Two heavyweights are teaming up to make a positive impact on the community.

Instead of Batman and Robin, this partnership is more like Batman and Superman. But rather than fighting crime, Collins Career Center and Ohio University Southern are working together to fight the problem of a lack of higher education.

Last year, the Ohio Board of Regents urged the two institutions to focus on cooperation rather than duplication. After months of groundwork, that first step has begun with a giant leap that would make the aforementioned Superman proud.

OUS and Collins Career Center plan to collaborate on a new nursing program next year in what likely will be the first phase of many great things to come.

Both of these institutions and their leaders, OUS Dean Dr. Dan Evans and Collins Superintendent Steve Dodgion, deserve much praise for their hard work and dedication to the education of the community.

Both these men have always said they were willing to do whatever it takes to help Lawrence Countians reach the same levels of higher education attainment as those in the rest of the Tri-State.

This first step shows they are willing to walk the walk, not just talk about it.

Every Lawrence County resident should be proud that these school leaders have been able to look at the big picture and see that this move will benefit thousands upon thousands of students and ultimately the entire region.

Though this plan simply calls for building a bridge between the two nursing programs, we hope to see many other partnerships in the future — something both officials already have said likely will happen.

Educational opportunities will be the key to unlocking Lawrence County’s future — you do not need to leap buildings in a single bound or battle supervillains to know that.

Putting Lawrence County’s youth and the county’s future at the top of the priority makes these men superheroes to us.