HENDERSON, NC (November 6, 2026) — Vance-Granville Community College has been named a finalist for the prestigious Bellwether Award, an honor that recognizes exceptional, innovative programs at community colleges across the United States.

From nearly 100 submissions, the Bellwether College Consortium (BCC) selected just 30 colleges nationwide as finalists across three Bellwether Award categories:

· Instructional Programs and Services, recognizing programs and services that foster student success and teaching innovation.

· Workforce Development, highlighting strategic alliances between community colleges and workforce partners that address regional labor market needs.

· Planning, Governance, and Finance, celebrating innovative approaches in college planning, management, and resource optimization.

Vance-Granville was recognized in the Planning, Governance, and Finance category for Building Futures, The VGCC Foundation’s innovative philanthropic strategy to leverage community investment, public-private partnerships, and regional collaboration to build two modernized training centers that address critical workforce shortages in historically-underserved rural communities.

Building Futures grew from the realization that, even as communities across the College’s four-county service area face persistent economic challenges, regional employers have struggled to fill positions in advanced manufacturing, transportation, logistics, and skilled trades. By expanding training options for such fields within our region, both individuals’ and employers’ needs are addressed.

While fundraising for the new training facilities has been a significant part of the initiative, the heart of Building Futures is investing in people—combining workforce education with scholarships, emergency assistance, transportation, technology access, and strategic employer partnerships. By engaging College leadership, local governments, economic development organizations, workforce agencies, K-12 partners, business and industry leaders, and philanthropic stakeholders, Building Futures was intentionally designed a collaborative, community-driven model rather than a traditional fundraising campaign.

Honoring Outstanding Innovation

Finalists for the 2027 Bellwether Awards were announced on October 29, 2026.

“We had a strong showing of 89 submissions from 78 community colleges across 29 states that were in contention,” said Rose Martinez, Ph.D., BCC director. “These Bellwether finalists deeply understand the importance of building upon current innovations and structuring evidence-supported programs that provide educational and economic opportunities for every learner coming from every ethnic background and

socioeconomic group. Our consortium members drive workplace productivity while maintaining access and affordability for its most vulnerable populations.”

To determine award winners from among the finalists, college teams will conduct presentations to a jury of anonymous judges and fellow college leaders to show how they significantly addressed a critical issue affecting community colleges. The 2027 Bellwether Award recipients will be named at the 33rd Annual Community College Futures Assembly, which will take place February 21–23, 2027, in San Antonio, Texas.

The Community College Futures Assembly convenes annually as an independent national forum for innovators to work as a think tank, identifying successful responses to critical issues facing the future of community colleges.

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About The Vance-Granville Community College Foundation: Established in 1976, The VGCC Foundation (VGCCF) is the official fundraising arm of Vance-Granville Community College and a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Foundation supports VGCC students and programs through scholarships, emergency assistance, food pantry support, capital projects, and other initiatives that advance student success and strengthen the communities VGCC serves.

Numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches, and College employees have endowed scholarships through The Foundation. Tax-deductible donations to VGCCF have often been used to honor or remember a person, organization, or industry with a lasting gift to education. VGCCF has over 300 endowed scholarships for students—more than any other program of its kind in North Carolina. For more information about The VGCC Foundation, contact 252-738-3264 or foundation@vgcc.edu.

Photo caption: The VGCC Foundation team, from left: Sheri Jones, Associate Director; Fredesvinda Colindres, Grants Administrator; Angela Douglas, Administrative and Food Pantry Assistant; and Tanya Weary, Executive Director.

Contact: Courtney Cissel, Public Information Officer cisselc@vgcc.edu • 252-738-3484