New partnership creates pathway for Grand Junction STEM students

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT) — Central High School, Colorado Mesa University (CMU) and the University of Colorado Boulder engineering program (CU Boulder) have signed a partnership designed to create a direct pathway from high school to college for STEM students on the Western Slope.

The agreement, officially signed Jan. 7, aims to expand access and opportunity for students by strengthening Central High’s existing STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs and making college pathways clearer and more attainable. Leaders from the three institutions said the collaboration focuses on mentorship, hands-on learning and guaranteed access to post-secondary programs for qualifying students.

“The reality is, anybody who’s been on the Western Slope for any time, you can’t help but feel like sometimes we get forgotten — like perhaps the underdog," CMU President John Marshall said. “Central High Schools represent the very best grit and resilience in this valley. We’ve always figured out a way to come together and overcome. When you’re 250 miles from everywhere, we’ve got to figure things out in partnership.”

Under the agreement, students who graduate with a STEM endorsement will be guaranteed admission to Colorado Mesa University and to the CMU and CU Boulder engineering partnership program. Leaders also said the partnership includes scholarship opportunities tied to student performance in the classroom.

“This partnership is to tell students that the harder they work in the classroom, the more opportunities they can access — including scholarships and guaranteed entry into programs,” Marshall said.

Educators said the partnership gives Central High’s STEM and engineering students a more fluid relationship with the college in their backyard. The agreement is intended to bring greater visibility to STEM at the school and to create a sustained pipeline for students interested in engineering and other STEM fields.

“I think it puts STEM on the board,” said Noelle Westcott, STEM coordinator for Central High School. “We’ve kind of been in the background at times. Now the program is moving forward with a partnership. It gives our students — not just those in STEM, but our engineering students specifically — a pathway where we can build a stronger relationship with the college nearby.”

Students welcomed the news, saying the agreement brings clarity and direction for their future plans.

“I think it’s really cool. I’ve been looking to go to CMU and CU myself, and with this partnership I think it’ll make it easier for younger students to see a clear path,” said Michael Jones, a senior in STEM at Central High School.

Beyond guaranteed admission and scholarships, leaders emphasized that the collaboration would provide mentorship, hands-on learning opportunities and exposure to real-world engineering and innovation. They expect those experiences to better prepare students for college-level coursework and career pathways in STEM.