The initiative was recognized at PRSA’s 2026 Anvil Awards for reversing a decade-long enrollment decline across the system.
RICHMOND, Va. – June 10, 2026 – Virginia’s Community College System (VCCS) was awarded a Bronze Anvil Award in the Paid Promotions category from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) for its “Find Your Answer” campaign. The award was presented on May 14 at PRSA’s 2026 Anvil Awards celebration in New York City.
Assistant Vice Chancellor Strategic Communications Susan Pollard accepts award
The campaign, developed in partnership with public relations and marketing agencies, The Hodges Partnership and AccessU, addresses a critical challenge facing community colleges: the perception gap between prospective students’ abstract appreciation of community colleges and their willingness to enroll.
While VCCS serves nearly half of Virginia’s public undergraduate students, many prospective students underestimated the depth and value of community college pathways to career advancement, credentials and economic opportunity.
The campaign contributed to VCCS achieving 5.1% year-over-year enrollment growth in Fall 2025, reversing a decade-long decline and demonstrating the measurable return on strategic communications investment.
“Virginia’s Community Colleges are among the most accessible, affordable pathways to meaningful careers and economic mobility in the Commonwealth, yet, for too long, many Virginians didn’t see their local community college as a viable option, personally,” said Susan Pollard, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications at VCCS. “The Find Your Answer campaign reached students across Virginia with authentic stories of real students starting new careers and building prosperous futures through community college pathways.”
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Pollard with members of the Hodges team and Access U who were instrumental in the campaign’s success
The Bronze Anvil Award recognizes outstanding tactical public relations programs that generate exceptional return on investment for organizations of all sizes and missions. Among national competitors in the Paid Promotions category, which honors use of sponsorships, paid placements and other marketing communications tactics that complement a broader public relations strategy and advance institutional goals, VCCS earned the sole Bronze Anvil designation.
“The campaign was built on a fundamental premise: reaching learners where they are with a message aligned to their aspirations: ‘Find Your Answer,’” Pollard added. “We combined traditional broadcast, connected TV and digital channels for statewide visibility, but we also broke new ground: military base placements, regional workforce targeting and audience segmentation strategies the system had never deployed before. That combination of broad reach and personalized precision is what drives real perception change across an entire state.”
The award reflects VCCS’s commitment to innovative communications strategies that directly support the system’s core mission: expanding access to affordable education and workforce training across Virginia’s communities. As Virginia’s community colleges continue to serve as a primary talent pipeline for regional employers and a critical pathway for working adults, first-generation students, and career changers, strategic communications investments demonstrate both the value these institutions deliver and their essential role in statewide economic development.
Learn more about the Find Your Campaign at FindYourAnswer.com.
About Virginia’s Community Colleges
The Virginia Community College System (VCCS), founded in 1966, plays a crucial role in providing higher education and workforce training across the state. With 23 colleges serving the diverse needs of the commonwealth, VCCS supports over 230,000 students annually. Notably, Virginia’s community colleges account for nearly half (48%) of all public undergraduate students in the state. With more than 5.5 million alumni, VCCS is not just a singular institution; it represents Virginia’s commitment to accessible education. The system connects with nearly every household in Virginia through various programs, including high school dual enrollment, workforce credentials, and affordable degree pathways, making higher education attainable for all.
About The Hodges Partnership
The Hodges Partnership is a Richmond-based strategic communications and digital marketing firm. The agency partners with organizations to develop and execute integrated communications campaigns across earned, owned and paid channels, with expertise in crisis communications, brand strategy and research-driven insights. The firm’s enduring client relationships reflect its commitment to strategic thinking, creative innovation and collaborative partnerships with organizations across higher education, nonprofit, government and corporate sectors.
About AccessU
AccessU is a full-service marketing and PR agency built for education. We work with institutions at every level — from community colleges and liberal arts schools to K-12, 4-year universities, and workforce development programs — to build the marketing, communications and creative strategies that move people to act. We bring tenacity to the work, care to every relationship and beauty to everything we make.
