FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Media Contact:  
Rachel Tyrrell BS, BA  
Content Coordinator in Marketing and Communications at Pikes Peak State College  
Mobile:  719-715-3297   
Email: rachel.tyrrell@pikespeak.edu  
Pronouns: she/her  

PPSC, Harrison D2, Legacy Institute and Dakota Foundation Partnership Captures National 2026 Bellwether Best in Showcase Award 

Colorado Springs, Colo.— Pikes Peak State College (PPSC), along with its partners Harrison School District 2 (D2), the Dakota Foundation, and the Legacy Institute were awarded the prestigious 2026 Bellwether Award Best in Showcase for Workforce Development at the 32nd Annual Community College Futures Assembly in San Antonio, Texas on Feb. 24, 2026. 

In its first year competing in the Bellwether Awards, PPSC, together with its partners, not only advanced to the national stage as a finalist but also earned the top distinction - the Best in Showcase - for its program, The D2 Promise: From Barriers to Breakthroughs.  

Selected as one of just 10 national finalists from a competitive pool representing 20 states and 30 colleges, the partnership was recognized for its work developing the D2 Promise,  a first-dollar, publicly funded college access and workforce development model built through a four-way partnership between Pikes Peak State College, Harrison School District 2, The Legacy Institute, and The Dakota Foundation.  

The partners participated in three days of intense competition where college teams presented their programs to an independent panel of national judges from peer institutions. The Best in Showcase for Workforce Development entries were judged on the program’s comprehensive and succinct overview, thorough and compelling response to audience questions, engaging and clear program materials, and ultimately the ability to demonstrate measurable impact, scalability, and bold solutions to critical challenges facing colleges and communities across the country.   

The D2 Promise presentation team included Dr. Wendy Birhanzel, D2 Superintendent, Dr. Zach McComsey, Legacy Institute Founder and CEO, Dr. Enrique Romo, PPSC Vice President for Student Experience and Equity, and Allison Cortez, PPSC Chief of Staff.  

Together, they shared information and data about the D2 Promise and its ability to create a workforce ecosystem that starts with first-dollar tuition, professional coaching, sustainable public funding, and community investment.  

According to published data regarding the D2 Promise, D2 Scholars have achieved more than 76% college-going rate and a 35% increase in retention over five years, with 877 students served to date.  

“Winning this award affirms what our community has built together,” said PPSC President, Dr. Lance Bolton. “The D2 Promise shows what becomes possible when a college, a school district, and nonprofit partners commit to removing systemic barriers and expanding pathways into high-demand careers.” 

The D2 Promise now serves as a model for replication, with PPSC and The Legacy Institute set to provide training to interested college and high-school administrators and philanthropic executives through the Promise for All Fellowship in 2027.  

About the Bellwether College Consortium 
The Bellwether College Consortium, supported by the Alamo Colleges District, hosts the annual Community College Futures Assembly and administers the national Bellwether Award competition. 

More information: www.bellwethercollegeconsortium.com 

About Pikes Peak State College (PPSC) 
Established in 1968 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, PPSC offers associate degrees, certificates in career and technical fields and a growing number of bachelors’ degrees. With four campuses, various off-campus locations, two military education centers, and hundreds of online classes, PPSC provides access to a quality, affordable and flexible education to more than 17,000 students annually with both credit and non-credit classes. 

More information: https://www.pikespeak.edu/ 

About Harrison School District 2 
Harrison School District 2 (D2) serves approximately 13,000 students in southern Colorado Springs and is the second-oldest district in El Paso County. The district offers diverse school options and innovative programs, including the International Baccalaureate Program and the D2 Promise, the nation’s first publicly funded first-dollar Promise program covering tuition and fees at Pikes Peak State College. 

More information: https://www.hsd2.org  

About Legacy Institute 
The Legacy Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing education and community development in Colorado. 

More information: https://springslegacy.org/ 

About Dakota Foundation  
For more than 28 years, the Dakota Foundation has worked to address social challenges by combining business discipline with charitable purpose. Our mission is to change lives by assisting people to achieve greater self-sufficiency for themselves and their families, providing them with tools to help them help themselves. We focus on initiatives that foster economic and workforce development, entrepreneurship and education. Learn more at www.dakotafoundation.org.