WINSTON-SALEM (February 26, 2025) – A Forsyth Technical Community College program that starts working with students in middle school to prepare them for college has won what’s known as the Heisman Trophy for community colleges.

The College Lift program at Forsyth Tech was named the winner of the Bellwether Award for Instructional Programs and Services at a ceremony this week in San Antonio, TX.

“We are deeply honored by this recognition, which highlights Forsyth Tech’s work to interrupt generational poverty,” said Dr. Janet Spriggs, President of Forsyth Tech. “With College Lift, we’re changing lives one family at a time – proving that when education meets opportunity, entire communities thrive.”

The college partners with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, as well as UNC Greensboro, Carolina University and Salem College. Spriggs said that currently, only one in four 9th-graders in Winston-Salem is projected to earn a college degree.

“At Forsyth Tech, we believe it’s vital to reach students well before they graduate high school. College Lift is about working hand in hand with our partners at Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, families, and community partners to break generational cycles by giving students the tools and support they need to succeed in college and beyond,” Spriggs said.

The program is modeled after the University of Southern California’s Neighborhood Academic Initiative. As a seven-year commitment that starts with 6th-graders in Title I schools, it provides students with not just academic support, but social and financial support as well to succeed in higher education.

Students commit to 21 Saturdays a year in instruction in core subjects, public speaking, creative writing and college readiness. Their families attend 15 of those Saturdays to gain skills to support their child’s education and navigate the college process.

Students also receive after-school tutoring, summer learning opportunities and wraparound support that includes mental-health counseling, food assistance and emergency aid. The program also invests in families through workforce training, financial and digital literacy education and career exploration.

Under the partnerships with Forsyth Tech, UNCG, Carolina University and Salem, graduates win tuition-free college access.

“College Lift has changed my life,” said Alexandra Sagastume Alcantara, a senior at Reynolds High School and College Lift scholar who spoke to the Bellwether Award judges.

“I’ve been part of this program since middle school, and now I’m preparing to graduate in May and head to UNC Greensboro—my first-choice school. I am beyond grateful for the opportunities this program has given me and my family.”

The first class of College Lift scholars graduated high school in June 2024, and every student enrolled in college. A second class is on track to do the same in May.

College Lift started with one middle school, expanded to four and now serves nearly 300 students. The program’s success shows that early, sustained intervention works – and that the model is replicable nationwide.

“This isn’t just about preparing students for college—it’s about removing the barriers that prevent them from getting there, keeping them there and ensuring they succeed,” said Ana Damaris Ortiz, Director of College Lift. “We are changing the trajectory of families, one student at a time.”

“If we can make this kind of impact in Winston-Salem, we can help other colleges do the same for their communities,” said John Davenport, Chair of the Forsyth Tech Board of Trustees.

“Education is the greatest tool for economic mobility, and College Lift is proof of what’s possible when we remove barriers for students and families.”