Marion, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—Marion Technical College has earned national recognition as a 2026 Bellwether Award winner for its innovative partnership with Columbus State Community College, which secured millions of dollars in additional funding to better serve students in need.
“Marion Technical College was just named the winner of the prestigious Bellwether Award in the category of Planning, Governance and Finance for our innovative partnership with Columbus State Community College,” said Dr. Amy Adams, executive vice president of Marion Tech. “The Bellwether Award honors community colleges that are leading the way with scalable, evidence-based practices. Thank you to our teams at Marion Technical College and Columbus State for your commitment to innovation and student success. The work we’re doing together is making a difference — and we’re just getting started.”
The award was presented Feb. 24 during the 32nd annual Community College Futures Assembly in San Antonio. Hosted by the Bellwether College Consortium, the prestigious awards honor outstanding and innovative community college programs across the nation.
Marion Tech received the Bellwether Award for its initiative, Growth through Grants. The program highlights a strategic partnership between Marion Tech and Columbus State that leverages collaborative planning and external funding to expand innovation and improve student success outcomes. As a result, Marion Tech increased its annual grant funding from an average of $500,000 to more than $2 million to better address student needs.
“This makes a tangible difference in the ways we can serve our students, who are largely from rural areas and have higher needs. Many of them are working adults navigating complex challenges,” said Dr. Ryan McCall, president of Marion Tech. “By working together and strategically pursuing grant opportunities, we are expanding access, strengthening programs and creating new pathways for students to succeed.”
The average student age for Marion Tech students is 27. Of students who completed the Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA), more than half were low-income and one in three is the first generation of their family to attend college.
The grants have allowed Marion Tech to invest in specialized staff, new equipment and technology and improved learning environments. The grant-funded positions have been able to provide more proactive student support to help improve retention and success.
“We’ve improved persistence, graduation and transfer rates,” Dr. McCall said. “Partnering with Columbus State expands opportunities for both colleges to land competitive grants and serve our students better.”
The Bellwether Awards are among the most competitive honors in community college education. Marion Tech and Columbus State were selected from a national pool of over 100 applicants and competed against nine other finalists in this category.
The Bellwether Award recognizes programs that are innovative, scalable and replicable, serving as models for community colleges nationwide.
The annual Community College Futures Assembly convenes leaders from across the country to identify forward-thinking solutions to critical issues facing community colleges.
For more information about Marion Technical College and its programs, visit mtc.edu.