Virginia Highlands Community College (VHCC) and the Virginia Highlands Community College Foundation are proud to announce the creation of the Bristol Virginia Promise Program, a transformative new initiative that will provide last-dollar, tuition-free education and workforce training opportunities to recent high school completers of the City of Bristol, Virginia.
This landmark program is made possible through a generous gift from the Anne & Gene Worrell Foundation, a philanthropic organization committed to expanding educational opportunity and economic vitality in Southwest Virginia. The Bristol Virginia Promise Program was announced on October 30th on the campus of Virginia High. Attendees included administrators and students from Bristol Virginia Public Schools – as well as representatives from Virginia Highlands Community College and VHCC Educational Foundation.
Beginning with the graduating high school class of 2026, the Bristol Virginia Promise Program will ensure that recent high school graduates in Bristol, Virginia (public, private, and homeschool) can pursue a college degree or workforce credential at VHCC without financial barriers. The program covers tuition and mandatory fees after other financial aid and scholarships are applied, opening doors for young people to obtain a post-high school credential or degree, or prepare to transfer to a four-year college or university.
“This is truly a life-changing opportunity for the people of Bristol, Virginia” said Dr. Adam Hutchison, President of Virginia Highlands Community College. “Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the Anne & Gene Worrell Foundation, every resident of Bristol, Virginia will now have the chance to pursue a college education or career training program, regardless of their financial situation. This investment will strengthen families, transform futures, and fuel the economic growth of our region for generations to come.”
The VHCC Foundation, which manages private gifts and grants for the College, will coordinate the implementation of the Bristol Virginia Promise Program together with various VHCC departments and community partners. To be eligible for the Bristol Virginia Promise Program, applicants must have lived in the City of Bristol (Virginia) for at least 12 months prior to high school graduation and be a U.S. resident. Students must apply and be accepted to VHCC, and complete both the FAFSA and VHCC Scholarship Application.
“This partnership represents the very best of what community colleges and philanthropy can achieve together,” said Laura Pennington, Executive Director of the VHCC Foundation and Vice President of Institutional Advancement. “The Bristol Virginia Promise Program not only removes the financial barriers to higher education but also sends a powerful message to every Bristol Virginia resident — that their community believes in their potential and their future.”
The Anne & Gene Worrell Foundation’s mission is to support initiatives and organizations that align with its focus to cultivate resilient communities and ecosystems in the places the Worrells called home. Its leadership views the Bristol Virginia Promise Program as an investment in both people and place.
“Anne and Gene Worrell believed deeply in the power of education to change lives,” said, Holly Hatcher, President and CEO of the Anne & Gene Worrell Foundation. “On behalf of the Board, we are honored to help make college and career training accessible to everyone in Bristol, Virginia. This program is about hope, opportunity, and ensuring that every individual has the chance to reach their full potential.”
For more information about eligibility, application timelines, and program details, visit www.vhcc/scholarships.