MCC Wins Prestigious 2025 Bellwether Award

Madisonville Community College was honored with a 2025 Bellwether Award at the Community College Futures Assembly, held February 22-24 in San Antonio, Texas. The Bellwether Awards are among community colleges' most competitive and prestigious national honors, recognizing innovative and impactful programs that drive student success and economic growth.

MCC earned this distinction in the Workforce Development category for submitting "From Coal to Careers – The Lisman Workforce Complex." This award-winning initiative highlights the college’s transformative programming at the Lisman Workforce Complex, a training and education center repurposed from the former Dotiki Mine Portal. The Workforce Development category specifically recognizes strategic public-private partnerships that foster community and economic growth.

Upon receiving the award, MCC President Cindy Kelley shared, "This national recognition affirms the transformative impact of the Lisman Workforce Complex and our commitment to creating meaningful career pathways for our students. By repurposing a former coal site into a hub for workforce development, we are not just honoring our region’s heritage but also preparing our community for a strong and innovative future. This award is a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff, and community partners who have worked tirelessly to make this vision a reality."

The Lisman Workforce Complex provides hands-on career training in high-demand fields, offering programs in utility line technology, commercial driver's license (CDL) certification, and diesel mechanics. By revitalizing a former coal industry site into a hub for workforce development, MCC is equipping students with the skills needed to succeed in evolving industries.

In addition to this national recognition, the Lisman Workforce Complex was previously honored with the Peggy Satterly Spirit of Kentucky Award at the 2023 Governor’s Local Issues Conference, further underscoring its impact on workforce development in the region. Key partners for the project were Webster County Fiscal Court, Webster County Judge Executive Steve Henry, and the Green River Area Development District.

As a Bellwether Award winner, MCC joins the prestigious Bellwether College Consortium, gaining national recognition as a leader in innovation and workforce development.

The college also had a second project named a Bellwether Award finalist, the Bridging Gaps in Skilled Trades: MCC’s Credential Lattice and Workforce Initiative, which was recognized in the Instructional Programs & Services category.

For more information about MCC’s workforce programs, click here.