Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative

The Health Careers Institute wouldn't be possible without the incredible professionals and organizations who open their doors to students.

Thank you to:

• Axis Health System
• Fort Lewis College
• San Juan College
• Upper Pine River Fire Protection
• Southwestern Colorado Area Health Education Center (SWCAHEC)
• And so many more!

Your willingness to share your expertise helps students see what is possible in their futures and builds a stronger future workforce for our region.

Last week, students from across Southwest Colorado explored careers in healthcare through our Health Careers Institute.

Participants connected with healthcare professionals, toured facilities, explored career pathways, and gained firsthand experience with what it takes to work in one of our region's most in-demand industries.

Thank you to all of our healthcare partners who invested their time and expertise in the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Thank You, Pueblo Community College Southwest!

A huge thank you to Pueblo Community College Southwest for being an incredible partner and host for this year's Behind the Drywall program.

From faculty and staff to administration and custodial teams, everyone stepped up to make students feel welcome and supported throughout the week. Your willingness to collaborate, solve problems, and create a positive learning environment played a big role in the program's success.

We're grateful for your partnership and commitment to helping students explore careers, build skills, and discover new opportunities right here in Southwest Colorado.

Thank you for being such outstanding hosts and collaborators!

Day 1 of Behind the Drywall is in the books!

What a great start to the week with our students diving headfirst into the world of the building trades. Today they had the chance to:

🧱 Build a wall
🚜 Get hands-on with small equipment (thank you Target Rental!)
🎮 Test their skills on a equipment simulator
💧 Laser engrave their own water bottles
💬 End the day in small groups reflecting on what they learned and sharing their hopes for the week ahead

But Behind the Drywall is about more than technical skills. Throughout the week, we’re intentionally weaving in conversations around the “soft skills” that matter in every career—communication, problem solving, relationship building, resilience & adaptability, and professional presence.

It’s been exciting to see students already stepping outside their comfort zones, trying new things, and building confidence. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the week brings!