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Senator Michael Bennet Commends CCA Education Innovations in Visit at CAST

A group of four people stands smiling in an industrial setting. Text on a red background reads “Senator Bennet Commends CCA Education Innovations in Visit at CAST.”

January 20, 2026

Aurora, CO – 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.

In a bright workshop, two individuals collaborate on a project with colorful gears, observed by a man in a suit.

CCA students Ayooluwa Adeyinka and Chava Bonilla present to Senator Bennet a rover machine they 3D printed and built at the Innovation Lab in CAST.

CCA designs academic programs aligned with workforce needs, positioning graduates for successful transfer or immediate entry into their career. This is possible, in part, by incorporating certifications into degree programs. CCA also fosters strategic partnerships that support pathways from education to employment. Some of those strategic partners include Colorado Youth for a Change and City of Commerce City. CCA also partners with other educational institutions like BuildStong Academy of Colorado, Cherry Creek School District, Aurora Public Schools, Regis University, and Colorado School of Mines.

​​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.

CCA leaders, partners, and regional leaders join Senator Bennet for a discussion in
the Diesel Power Mechanics workshop.

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:

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 aligns 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. 

Find additional, high resolution photos from the visit here.

About the Community College of Aurora

The Community College of Aurora (CCA) provides high-quality instruction and student support services to Aurora, Centennial, and Denver, Colorado. With a vision to aspire to be a college where every student succeeds, CCA is the most diverse college in the State of Colorado. Focused on creating social and economic mobility for its students, the college offers courses on three campuses, online, and through its high school concurrent enrollment programs. For more information, visit www.ccaurora.edu.

Contact:

Courtney Butler
Executive Director of Strategic Communications and Special Initiatives
Strategic Communications and Alumni Engagement
P: 303-340-7201   |  E: [email protected]