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A team from Charlotte County’s Southside Virginia Community College campus recently went on a road trip. They traveled to San Antonio, Texas to compete for the prestigious 2024 Bellwether Award at the 30th annual Community College Futures Assembly.

SVCC was selected as a finalist from a large pool of applicants across the nation. In total, 29 community colleges from 18 states competed for the award. Each finalist was assigned to one of three competition categories: Instructional Programs and Services, Workforce Development, and Planning, Governance, and Finance. 

SVCC was one of 10 colleges in the Workforce Development category. Bellwether finalists are considered to be in the top 10% among community colleges in their respective categories.

The participants were asked to share how they addressed a significant issue affecting community colleges and provide replicable examples of lessons learned. SVCC’s presentation was entitled “Industry Collaboration for Workforce Development: SVCC’s Power Line Worker School” which highlighted the Power Line Worker program, the program’s creation, and the impact of effective collaboration with industry partners. 

“Although we did not take home first prize in our category, we are incredibly honored and humbled to have had the opportunity to compete for the 2024 Bellwether Award,” SVCC President Dr. Quentin Johnson said. “It was a fantastic opportunity to connect and share ideas with other community colleges throughout the nation.” 

WHAT IS BELLWETHER? 

The Bellwether College Consortium is comprised of award-winning colleges charged with addressing critical issues facing community colleges through applicable research and the promotion and replication of best practices addressing workforce development, instructional programs and services, and planning governance and finance.