Investment helps fund new facility to train northern Colorado’s health care workers.
Columbine Health Systems has pledged $150,000 to help Front Range Community College fund its new Health Care Careers Center in Fort Collins. The new facility opened earlier this month.
The state-of-the-art facility will fill a critical need for the community by educating highly-qualified nurses and health care professionals for the growing population in northern Colorado. The two-story, 62,500 square-foot building is a centralized, technology-rich learning environment for all of the college’s health-related and nursing programs. Starting this semester, the building—called Grays Peak—is the main training center for more than 900 students studying health-related fields at the college.
“As Columbine celebrates our 50th anniversary, supporting the new center at FRCC was an obvious choice. The graduates are exceptional. Many work for us,” stated Bob Wilson, owner and CEO of Columbine Health Systems. “We are also a bit selfish. We will continue to need certified nursing assistants and nurses going forward. This new state-of-the art education center is a gem for our community.”
“Columbine Health has always been community minded—and a strong supporter of our health care programs over the last decade,” said FRCC President Andy Dorsey. Because of this significant donation, FRCC is naming the common area on the second floor the “Columbine Health Lobby.” The space will include practice rooms where individual students—or small groups—can work on their skills.
“In addition to this latest crucial gift, Columbine has donated $167,000 to the college for student scholarships over the years,” Dorsey added. Columbine’s previous donations have helped students pay for their education in FRCC’s registered nursing and licensed practical nursing programs.
FRCC’s Health Care Careers Center
All of FRCC’s current health care and nursing programs are now housed in the HCCC. The building also includes space for new programming to meet the changing health care needs of the community.
The HCCC includes state-of-the-art learning spaces including classrooms, labs, small group learning spaces and collaborative space to support the programs and provide students with the required high end hands-on training.
FRCC’s Health Care Programs
Front Range Community College offers 15 degrees and certificate programs focused on educating and training students for a variety of disciplines in the health and wellness field.
FRCC currently offers the only nursing program in Larimer County. Our graduates boast among the highest pass rates on the national licensure exam of any nursing program in the state.
FRCC began offering a new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in the fall of 2019. The BSN degree is available to current students, graduates, and incumbent workers who live in Front Range Community College’s service area, which intersects seven counties from north Denver to Wyoming.
About Columbine Health
Columbine Health Systems is the largest locally owned and operated senior health care organization in Northern Colorado. Offering patio homes, independent and assisted living, skilled nursing care and rehabilitation, medical equipment, pharmacy, medical and non-medical home care, they serve those requiring in-home care and care in one of their 14 facilities.
About Front Range Community College
FRCC offers more than 100 degree and certificate programs from locations in Boulder County, Larimer County, Westminster, Brighton, and online. FRCC is a member of the Colorado Community College System.
About the Colorado Community College System
The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) is the state’s largest system of higher education, serving 138,000 students annually at 13 colleges and 39 locations across Colorado. Our open access mission ensures all Coloradans who aspire to enrich their lives have access to quality higher education opportunities.
