tough job market. The four classes earned her 12 credits toward her master’s degree. Intertek hired her to work on medical- device testing, certification, and QA before she graduated in May. “I definitely would recommend it,” she says. The “nontraditional learners” piece relates to admissions criteria. The QA/RA Certificate Program considers applicants with a bachelor’s degree, an associate’s degree plus two years of experience in a regulated manufacturing environment, or four years of experience in such an environment. The NSF grant will go largely to schol arships for 15 to 20 students and $2,500 stipends, which can include travel costs to a three-day capstone experience. Students meet face-to-face and visit three biotech/medical-device companies on successive days. “The capstone set me and my classmates up to make really incredible connections that will be lifelong,” says Argenta. Magin and Kimberly Martinez, an Adjunct Professor who is Director of Quality at EMSAR, a medical device services company, teach the classes. Colleagues from the state’s life sciences commu nity contribute heavily, designing case studies, guest lecturing, and hosting the capstone experiences. “There are so many folks in industry who are passionate about mentoring, training, and teaching,” Magin says. More organizations are offering schol arship support, and Magin continues to fundraise. It’s for a good cause. “We’ve removed some of the traditional barriers to entering the life sciences workforce,” she says. “That’s one of the things I’m most proud of.” P-TECH Puts High School First-Years on a Professional Path in Biotechnology Gabe Zierlein started as a freshman at Frederick High School in 2019, the same year the school introduced one of now 22 versions of Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools—P-TECH. P-TECH, a public-private partnership first launched by the State of Colorado in 2015, aims to build crucial skills across a range of technologies and trades. It’s open to all students, but with a special focus on those who are socioeconomically and racially diverse, first-generation college students, English language learners, and students with disabilities. At Frederick High, P-TECH’s focus is biochemistry, and its success has been built on a collaboration with Colorado BioScience Institute, Aims Community College, and industry partners Agilent Technologies, CordenPharma, KBI Biopharma, and Umoja Biopharma. More than 150 Frederick High School first-years have signed up for one of now 35 new annual slots that, though a lot of hard work, lead to earning a high school degree plus an associate degree from Aims Community College in four to six years—at no cost to students. “We earned 63 college credits while still in high school,” Zierlein says. “I graduated without debt and with a career path I really love.” “ I graduated without debt and with a career path I really love. G ABE Z IE RL EI N INTE RM E D I AT E CHEMI ST AG ILE NT TECH N OLOGI ES P-TECH P ROGRA M GRA DUAT E Agilent Technologies hired P-TECH Program graduate Gabe Zierlein shortly after he graduated from high school. 36 2026-27 BIOSCIENCE COLORADO
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