Nov. 13, 2026
Across six semesters, the the Community College of Aurora (CCA) awarded over $224,000 in scholarships to 144 students enrolled in the courses that make up the Qualified Behavioral Health Assistant (QBHA) Certificate, helping reduce financial barriers to education and expand opportunities for students pursuing careers in behavioral health.
Made possible through funding provided by the Colorado Community College System (CCCS), the scholarship initiative supported students enrolled in PTE 1010, BEH 1001, BEH 1030, and BEH 2030. Beyond providing financial assistance, the scholarships helped introduce new students to CCA’s behavioral health programs and encouraged many to continue their education through additional academic and career pathways.
What began as a scholarship opportunity grew into something much more meaningful for our behavioral health programs,
said Kristina Kierstead, CCA’s behavioral health department chair. For many students, these scholarships opened the door to exploring the behavioral health field, discovering a passion for the work, and pursuing additional education and career opportunities. Seeing them build on that initial experience and find their place in the behavioral health workforce has been one of the most rewarding outcomes of this initiative.
Through its partnership with CCCS, CCA developed a process for awarding scholarships designed to be equitable, efficient and responsive to student needs. The collaborative effort helped ensure that financial assistance reached students at the beginning of their educational journeys, providing support to those just starting out in the behavioral health field.
The impact of the initiative extended beyond financial support itself. By making QBHA coursework more accessible, the scholarships helped attract students to CCA’s behavioral health offerings, introduce them to career opportunities in the field, and support their academic and professional growth. CCA’s work developing the programs also earned the college national recognition after being included in a case study last year for building stackable credentials.
The QBHA scholarship funding gave our students a real opportunity to pursue behavioral health careers without the weight of financial barriers,
said Misty Hull, dean of allied health in the Division of Academic Success. Our collaboration with CCCS put more than $224,000 into the hands of 144 students, and many of them are now continuing on to additional behavioral health pathways with us.
The scholarship effort demonstrates CCA’s commitment to expanding educational access, supporting student success and strengthening pathways into the behavioral health workforce. By investing in students at the beginning of their educational journeys, the college has helped open doors to new possibilities while supporting the development of a skilled behavioral health workforce.
What started as a scholarship opportunity has become an investment in students, their futures and the communities they will serve.