On Jan. 16, Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet toured the new Center for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) at the Community College of Aurora (CCA) CentreTech campus. During the visit, he commended CCA’s award-winning academic program innovations that make it easier for graduates to enter the workforce and earn a living wage.
“With an economy that’s changing at the speed of light, Coloradans deserve a quality education that prepares them to enter the workforce, make a living wage, and chase the American Dream,” Bennet said. “To do that, we have to pay our educators what they deserve, connect education directly to work, and ensure our students can read and do math at grade level.”
“At the Community College of Aurora, we ensure every learner has access to an education that leads to opportunity,” said Dr. Mordecai Brownlee, President of the Community College of Aurora. “As part of the Colorado Community College System, we work every day to connect education and workforce preparation so students can build meaningful careers and strengthen Colorado’s communities.”
After a tour, Dr. Brownlee joined the senator and several CCA partners to discuss the interconnected initiatives that build the network of pathways for students. In attendance was:
CCA Dean of Academic Success in Career and Technical Education, Dr. Jim DeLung,
Building Educational Pathways Through Partnerships
At CAST, Senator Bennet joined education and workforce leaders from across the region for a discussion on the barriers that continue to limit socioeconomic mobility in education. A key theme centered on long-standing perceptions of higher education, particularly the stigma that has historically steered employers’ attention toward four-year institutions. As student loan debt continues to rise and traditional pathways become financially unattainable for many learners, community colleges like CCA are redefining value—delivering industry-aligned education through strong partnerships, applied learning, and diverse career pathways that lead directly to opportunity.
CCA intentionally designs academic programs around workforce demand, building connections with both industry and education partners to create a seamless network of pathways. This approach ensures students can pursue education and technical training that align with their career goals, whether that means immediate entry into the workforce or transfer to a four-year institution. From a student perspective, they have a variety of ways to choose their career pathway and earn valuable socioeconomic mobility.
That pathway network begins as early as high school. Through partnerships with Cherry Creek School District and Aurora Public Schools, CCA expands access to affordable college coursework through concurrent enrollment and programs like the Aspiring Educator Pathway program. As students graduate, CCA’s partnerships continue to reduce financial barriers through opportunities such as the full-ride Momentum Scholarship for former concurrent enrollment students, and the Commerce City Promise program. While enrolled at CCA, some students pursue workforce-driven pathways through partnerships like BuildStrong Academy of Colorado and Wagner Equipment Co., while others follow higher-education transfer routes through initiatives such as the Mines Academy and additional four-year degree pathways.
Senator Bennet’s visit underscored the critical role community colleges play in strengthening Colorado’s workforce and expanding access to education that leads to meaningful careers. Through facilities like CAST and a growing network of K-12, higher education, and industry partnerships, the Community College of Aurora continues to build pathways that connect learning directly to opportunity—ensuring students are prepared not only to enter the workforce, but to thrive in Colorado's evolving economy.
