Woodward Hines Education Foundation Named NCAN’s 2026 Member of the Year
For Immediate Release: October 16, 2026
Contact: Morgan Miller, (601) 321-5527; mmiller@woodwardhines.org
JACKSON, Miss. — The Woodward Hines Education Foundation (WHEF) has received the National College Attainment Network’s (NCAN) 2026 Member of the Year Award of Excellence, recognizing the Foundation’s work to expand postsecondary opportunity and help close equity gaps for students in Mississippi.
NCAN presented the award during its 2026 National Conference in Las Vegas earlier this month. The recognition reflects WHEF’s statewide impact and its commitment to helping more Mississippians access and complete postsecondary education and training that leads to family-sustaining employment.
“Mississippi has real challenges, but none of those can be an excuse for what our students can achieve,” said Jim McHale, president and CEO of the Woodward Hines Education Foundation. “Our students don’t get to choose the circumstances they’re born into. What matters is that we stay focused on student outcomes, challenge our assumptions, and work together to give students the postsecondary opportunities they deserve.”
McHale accepted the award on behalf of WHEF and emphasized that Mississippi’s progress is the result of sustained, collaborative work across the state and continued learning from colleagues nationwide. “People may read about Mississippi or drive through our state and think they understand us. But there is another Mississippi you experience when you sit beside a student, work alongside a counselor, walk into a classroom, or bring people together around a problem that needs solving,” McHale said. “We know there is more work to do, and we also know what happens when people refuse to make excuses and decide to work together.”
WHEF’s work includes expanding college access through its Get2College program, supporting FAFSA completion, advancing policies that strengthen postsecondary access and completion, reducing barriers to higher education for justice-impacted individuals, and bringing together organizations and stakeholders around shared education and workforce goals. Through NCAN’s network of more than 600 members, WHEF learns from colleagues in other states and shares Mississippi’s experiences and lessons learned. Mississippi has consistently ranked among the top five states in FAFSA completion, reaching a record 73.4% completion rate for the high school class of 2025 and ranking first in the nation.
“This recognition belongs to the entire Foundation,” McHale said. “We have learned so much from our colleagues across the country, and we are proud to contribute lessons from Mississippi in return. Meaningful progress takes all of us, and we are grateful to NCAN for bringing this community together around the students we serve.”
The award reinforces WHEF’s commitment to expanding equitable access to and completion of postsecondary credentials, certificates, and degrees that lead to meaningful employment for more Mississippians.
WHEF President and CEO Jim McHale accepts NCAN’s 2026 Member of the Year Award of Excellence on behalf of the Woodward Hines Education Foundation from NCAN Board Member Dr. Janice Hicks.
Photo: Anthony LaMothe Photography
For more information about WHEF and its initiatives, visit woodwardhines.org.
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About Woodward Hines Education Foundation
Since its inception, WHEF has worked to expand college access and entry for Mississippians and supports promising practices that lead to persistence, completion, and pathways to family-sustaining work. The foundation envisions a Mississippi where all people can access education and training beyond high school to improve their quality of life, strengthen their communities, and contribute to a vibrant and prosperous future. Learn more about WHEF by visiting www.woodwardhines.org.