Garfield Re-2 Expands Engineering Pathway to Build Real-World Opportunities for Students

$75,000 Nathan Yip Foundation Grant Supports Training, Equipment Upgrades, and a Stronger 6–12 STEM Pipeline

Garfield Re-2 School District has been awarded a $75,000 grant over three years from the Nathan Yip Foundation to expand and strengthen the Engineering Pathway at Rifle High School, creating new opportunities for students to explore high-demand careers close to home.

Year one of the grant will focus on training and equipment to ensure the program has the tools needed for advanced, real-world engineering learning. The investment will support PLTW training, upgraded materials and equipment, including engineering-capable computers that can run the software required for advanced coursework, along with continued work to align middle school and high school STEM programming.

“This grant allows us to keep building meaningful career pathways that connect learning to real opportunity,” said Superintendent Kirk Banghart. “Our Strategic Plan calls on us to increase access to career and technical education opportunities. This work helps ensure our students graduate prepared—with the skills, confidence, and real-world experiences that support success after high school.”

The Engineering Pathway launched this year with the Project Lead The Way (PLTW) curriculum in one classroom at Rifle High School. The district will continue to expand course offerings as the pathway develops.

“We are building the pathway, but it’s a long-term build,” said Secondary Curriculum Director Jacob Pingel.

Pingel emphasized that the district is designing the pathway in a way that helps students stay engaged and excited as they explore the engineering career field.

“One of the things that we’ve learned is if you go too deep early, kids get overwhelmed, and then they walk away from it before they’ve had a real chance to feel excitement around it,” Pingel said. “Students need the freedom to explore and pivot if necessary.”

As the district adds advanced PLTW engineering coursework, students need access to the same types of tools and software used in modern engineering and design. Current devices are not fully capable of supporting the advanced programs required for upper-level coursework, so part of the grant will be used to upgrade equipment and classroom resources.

Additionally, students will gain increasing exposure to local engineering firms, construction companies, and municipal partners. Future phases include internships, job shadowing, and real-world design challenges that connect classroom learning to community impact.

The development of the Engineering pathway supports Garfield Re-2’s commitment to expanding Career Pathways and College Readiness and aligns with the district’s Graduate Profile vision of developing independent problem solvers, effective communicators, resilient learners, and community-connected leaders.

“This is about creating opportunity,” Banghart said. “It’s about helping students see a future for themselves, and giving them the tools and experiences to build that future right here in our community. We are grateful to the Nathan Yip Foundation for believing in this project, and in the Garfield Re-2 School District.”