Merced College wins prestigious national award for workforce innovation
Merced College has won the prestigious 2026 Bellwether Award in the Workforce Development category, the school announced Tuesday.
Merced College was one of 10 finalists in the category and took home the trophy at the national competition held Feb. 22-24 in San Antonio, Texas.
Merced College was recognized for the impact of its AgTEC Workforce Initiative and the development of the AgTEC Innovation Center, and its partnership with Reservoir Farms.
The Bellwether Awards are widely regarded as one of the most competitive honors in community college education, Merced College said in a news release.
“This recognition affirms what we have believed from the beginning: that the future of agriculture depends on investing in people,” Merced College President Chris Vitelli said. “The Central Valley feeds the nation, yet too many of the workers who sustain this industry have lacked access to higher education pathways that lead to economic mobility.
“Through AgTEC, we set out to change that. We built a model that aligns industry need, educational innovation and regional collaboration — and one that is already being replicated well beyond our campus.”
The $22 million AgTEC Innovation Center is under construction. The 20,000-square-foot center broke ground in April and is expected to be completed in fall 2027.
It is a project that aims to prepare students for advanced manufacturing in agricultural food systems with access to labs for meat, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and nutrition.
Merced College’s AgTEC initiative has been featured on CBS News and in the Los Angeles Times for its innovative approach.
This story was originally published February 24, 2026 at 1:21 PM with the headline "Merced College wins prestigious national award for workforce innovation."
