By Jackson Roeder and Grayson Graham / Colorado School of Mines and Arapahoe Community College
In mid-October, the Colorado School of Mines & Arapahoe Community College’s BattChallenge team attended the Rocky Mountain Automotive Teacher’s Conference at Cherry Creek’s Innovation Campus in Centennial, Colorado, to focus on encouraging partnerships between higher education institutions and secondary schools to create opportunities for underrepresented youth in STEM. This event brought together automotive educators from across the Rocky Mountain region to share ideas and explore collaborations.
During the presentation, Viviana Nelson, the team’s vocational liaison and communications lead who is also a Colorado school of Mines senior majoring in mechanical engineering, and Diego Palacios, BattScholar and youth outreach lead who is an Arapahoe Community College student studying in the Automotive Technology program, introduced the Battery Workforce Challenge and highlighted how their team’s partnership has been mutually beneficial. They showcased it as a model for empowering collaboration between educators and students alike.
As part of the discussion, Nelson and Palacios posed a powerful question to the attendees: How can we empower people to reach across borders? The Battery Workforce Challenge aims to build not only a strong workforce but also a collaborative culture of diverse students and workers advancing sustainability.
Programs like Upward Bound, which connects low-income high school students to college opportunities, were shared as examples of impactful partnerships.
This call to action resonated with teachers, sparking ideas and discussions about implementing partnerships in their communities. Wesley Swieter, project manager and a Colorado School of Mines grad student pursuing a master’s in engineering and technology management, shared his insights on the importance of inclusivity in workforce development and how collaboration drives success.
After the presentation, attendees toured the Innovation Campus’ automotive shop, where conversations continued. Faculty expressed interest in future middle and high school student engagement opportunities, with the goal of further developing the pipeline for STEM careers.
Beyond developing technology, this collaboration expands upon the vision of the Battery Workforce Challenge. It underscores the potential for partnerships between education and industry to create battery-powered solutions, as exemplified by the program’s objective of a sustainable, cost-effective van for goods delivery. More importantly, it opens doors for diverse voices — including women and people of color — to innovate and lead.
One of the fastest ways to positively impact a student’s trajectory is by empowering their teachers,” Nelson said. “I experienced that as a high school student, which helped me pursue my degree at Mines.”
This highlights how empowering educators can inspire the next generation of innovators.
The Colorado School of Mines team sets a transformative example for education and workforce development by prioritizing accessibility, diversity and collaboration. This challenge not only pushes the boundaries of innovation but also inspires the minds of the future.
Follow the Colorado School of Mines & Arapahoe Community College’s BattChallenge team on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay updated on its journey of innovation and collaboration.
