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Saint Vrain students describe internships, apprenticeships that led to jobs and college pathways
Summary
Four current and former students told the St. Vrain Valley School District board on Feb. 12 how internships, P-TECH classes and the district's School to Work Alliance Program helped them gain industry experience, certifications and, in several cases, full-time employment.
The St. Vrain Valley School District Board of Education heard presentations Feb. 12 from four current and former students who described how apprenticeships and internships connected to the district's career and technical programs led to industry certifications, college coursework and full-time jobs.
The students and district staff framed internships and apprenticeships as part of the district's Strategic Pathways to Academic Excellence by Design, which the district said supports work-based learning, P-TECH courses, the School to Work Alliance Program (SWAP) and a district Apprenticeship Hub that includes two full-time internship program coordinators.
"My time at the CETC led me to [a] career path of becoming an automotive technician," said Kyle Trujillo, a 2022 graduate of Silver Creek High School, who described competing in SkillsUSA and entering college-level coursework after CTC classes. Trujillo credited his CETC instructors and SWAP staff for mentoring him and preparing him for industry-standard work.
Jan Nieto, a 2023 P-TECH graduate from Skyline High School, said the P-TECH track allowed him to earn an associate degree while in high school and later join a yearlong paid IT apprenticeship. "This experience boosted my confidence. And now even with fear, I'm eager to learn, fell forward, and help anyone I can," Nieto said, adding that he earned industry certifications during his apprenticeship and now works full time as an IT help-desk specialist in District ETS.
Gavin Burke, a student at Universal High School, described a summer internship at "Grama Public Media" (as spoken) arranged through his CTC coordinator; he listed certifications including Adobe Premiere Pro and said the internship included producing a documentary and other hands-on production work.
Chase Olsen, an 11th grader at Silver Creek and vice president of the CTC car club, described a paid internship with the City of Boulder working on heavy-duty vehicles. Olsen said the internship provided early-morning shop time, mentorship from lead technicians, and access to training and benefits that will help him pursue certifications and employment.
Students named a range of district staff and industry mentors who supported them, including CETC instructors, SWAP specialists and work-based learning coordinators. The board and superintendent thanked the students and invited instructors and internship leaders forward for a group photo.
The presentations included district examples of students who moved from CTC programs into full-time work: Juliana, a welding champion and recent New Meridian High School graduate now employed at RK Steel, and Cesar Nava Estrada, a Frederick High School 2024 graduate who interned with Occidental Petroleum and later took a production technician job.
Board members praised the programs as a bridge to careers and recommended expanding outreach so more students learn about CTC, P-TECH and SWAP offerings.
The board did not take action on the presentations; they served as informational highlights of the district's work-based learning efforts.
