27J Schools hosts back-to-back ribbon cuttings for new career-learning centers

  A double dose of celebrations for the 27J Schools community, as the district held back-to-back ribbon cutting ceremonies for Brighton High School and Prairie View High School’s brand new STEM and Career and Technical Education Centers.

  The nearly 56,000 square foot state-of-the-art center at Brighton High School connects to the existing building and provides students with dedicated learning spaces for automotive, culinary arts, engineering, health sciences and sports medicine.

  “This building holds our new engineering classroom that will serve as a cornerstone of our engineering program,” said Engineering teacher RaJean Tiffany. “The classroom is just not bricks and mortar, it’s a symbol of hope, innovation, and transformation. It represents our commitment to the next generation of engineers.”

   The crowd also heard from Daxton Hruby, a 2023 Brighton High School alumnus who was hired by Wayne’s Electric almost immediately after graduation, thanks in part to the skills he received in school and an internship opportunity provided by Saunders Construction, Inc.

“I was hired five days after I graduated last spring,” said Hruby. “I was lucky enough to continue working on the STEM and CTE wing here at Brighton High School and I’m proud to know that I can use my skills I learned within these walls to build new future opportunities for Bulldogs here and for the years to come,” he added.

  At Prairie View High School, the center is located just behind the main school building.

“We take great pride in our students having pride in our facility and for those kids to be able to stay here and keep their Thunderhawk identity is really important to me,” said Principal Steve Shelton. “The fact that instead of bussing them somewhere else or having them report to a different building everyday, the value in those kids keeping their identity as Thunderhawks makes a difference in our building everyday,” added Shelton.

The Center offers classes and hands-on learning opportunities for biomedical science, child development, commercial photography, computer technology, culinary arts, audio and visual production, small engine repair and sports medicine.

After the ribbon cuttings, guests at both events were given the chance to tour the new centers and speak with students and staff about the learning opportunities the centers provide.

The district opened another similar center last month at Riverdale Ridge High School in Thornton.  All of these new facilities were made possible thanks to community support of a $515 million Bond Construction Program approved by voters in 2021.