• Colorado’s first health sciences high school is under construction and will open in August 2027
• Concurrent enrollment at CCA will give students the opportunity to earn industry credentials
• Students will apply classroom learnings to real world clinical settings at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital

Aurora, Colo. (Oct. 9. 2026)  - UCHealth is partnering with Aurora Public Schools (APS) and Community College of Aurora (CCA) on a new health sciences magnet high school to give students an early, affordable pathway to healthcare careers.

Healthcare career pathways

The school, currently under construction, will open August 2027, and is located across the street from the CU Anschutz campus. Students will select one of five healthcare related pathways: nursing, behavioral health, medical imaging, surgical technology or respiratory therapy. Through concurrent enrollment at CCA, students will have the ability to earn industry credentials and may continue their education at CCA or enter the workforce with industry-recognized skills.

Hands-on clinical experiences

UCHealth will provide workplace visits, job shadowing, simulations and supervised clinical rotations, helping students apply classroom lessons, explore health care careers and build professional connections.

Enrollment for the new school begins November 2026.

The Lown Institute Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility combines metrics of health equity and value of care with patient outcomes, offering a holistic view of hospitals as community partners. Lown’s annual index includes more than 2,700 hospitals and health systems and evaluates performance on more than 50 measures, including community benefit, inclusivity, cost efficiency, clinical outcomes and patient safety.

Several UCHealth hospitals were also individually recognized with “A” grades in social responsibility.

• UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital (Fort Collins)

• UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies (Loveland)

• UCHealth Grandview Hospital (Colorado Springs)

• UCHealth Greeley Hospital (Greeley)

• UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital (Aurora)

• UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central (Colorado Springs)

• UCHealth Pikes Peak Regional Hospital (Colorado Springs)

About UCHealth

UCHealth is a nationally recognized nonprofit health system that pushes the boundaries of medicine through advanced treatments and clinical trials, improving health through innovation and providing unmatched patient care in the Rocky Mountain West. Investing $1.6 billion in community benefits including $762 million in uncompensated and charity care each year, UCHealth is Colorado’s largest Medicaid provider and dedicated to the communities it serves. With the region’s only adult academic medical center, University of Colorado Hospital on the CU Anschutz campus, UCHealth includes 38,000 employees, 15 acute-care hospitals and thousands of physicians across Colorado, Wyoming and western Nebraska.

Aurora, Colo. – UCHealth is donating $260,150 to Athletics & Beyond following the success of its annual Healthy Swings charity home run derby, an event that brought together professional football players, community leaders and local youth for a day of competition and purpose. Athletics & Beyond is a Denver-based youth mentoring organization that uses sports to empower young people to build confidence, develop leadership skills and succeed in school and life. 

“Healthy Swings is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when our community comes together around a shared purpose,” said Bill Smith, director, brand partnership activation at UCHealth. “We’re proud to partner with Athletics & Beyond to expand opportunities for young people across Denver - from mentorship and education to exposure to careers they may not have otherwise considered.”

The event featured Denver football players Alex Singleton, Will Lutz, Courtland Sutton and their teammates, who stepped up to the plate to drive donations with every swing. For each hit, UCHealth contributed between $100 and $20,000 

Courtland Sutton led the field as this year’s home run derby winner by hitting two home runs in the championship round. 

“It’s an honor to compete for something bigger than the game,” said Sutton. “Anytime I get a chance to come out here—whether I win or not—to come out here and contribute to a cause, it’s a blessing. Athletics & Beyond is doing important work, and we’re proud to support their mission.” 

Beyond the competition, the day also provided hands-on experiences for students from Athletics & Beyond. Participants had the opportunity to step into sports-related roles, from on-field reporting to working in the media booth, offering a behind-the-scenes look at potential career paths in athletics and media. 

‘We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with UCHealth on this opportunity,” said Narcy Jackson, executive director, Athletics & Beyond. “Funds raised through Healthy Swings will support our mentoring programs, helping to expand access to academic support, leadership development and sports-based enrichment for youth across metro Denver.” 

Each year, UCHealth selects a different nonprofit to benefit from Healthy Swings, reinforcing its commitment to community health and well-being. UCHealth has donated more than $1M to several local and national organizations. Previous charity partners include Freedom Service Dogs, Next Chapter, Food for Thought Denver, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Feeding Colorado, Gold Crown Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

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Aurora, Colo. (March 30, 2026) – When the Colorado Rockies step up to bat at Coors Field on Friday, a big swing could mean more than another run on the scoreboard. For each home run that strikes the “Hit the Mitt” banner in left field or lands in the left-field tunnel, UCHealth will donate $5,000 to Athletics & Beyond, a Denver-based youth mentoring program that uses sports to empower young people to succeed.

“Sports is the entry point that gets them in the door,” said Narcy Jackson, founder of Athletics & Beyond. “Once they’re engaged, we channel their enthusiasm for competition into lessons about hard work, self-discovery and perseverance. We focus on supporting their academic progress through tutoring, developing life and workforce skills and exploring future career paths.”

Students at Athletics & Beyond can train and compete in a variety of sports, including football, baseball, boxing, wrestling, tumbling and track and field. While sports are central to the Athletics & Beyond identity, its approach also emphasizes academic achievement, exposure to career pathways and equipping students with the tools and mindset needed for long-term success.

“We have had some kids come through this program and actually make it to the NFL,” said Rod Rogers, founder of athlete strategy and former professional football player. “But we also have many other alumni who have used the hard work, discipline and habits they learned here to be competitive in other industries and build great careers as teachers, engineers, businessmen or doctors.”

Each year, UCHealth selects a new nonprofit beneficiary for the “Hit the Mitt” challenge, focusing on organizations that support Coloradans in need. Last season, Rockies players hit the target four times, raising $20,000 for Freedom Service Dogs.

“We’re proud to partner with an organization that is making an impact on the young people in our community,” said Manny Rodriguez, chief marketing, experience and customer officer at UCHealth. “Hit the Mitt is one of many ways we collaborate with the Rockies to give back, and we’re excited to see how many times players can hit a home run for Athletics & Beyond this season.”

About UCHealth 

UCHealth is a nationally recognized nonprofit health system that pushes the boundaries of medicine through advanced treatments and clinical trials, improving health through innovation and providing unmatched patient care in the Rocky Mountain West. Investing $1.3 billion in community benefits including $570 million in uncompensated care each year, UCHealth is Colorado’s largest Medicaid provider and dedicated to the communities it serves. With the region’s only adult academic medical center, University of Colorado Hospital on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, UCHealth includes 37,000 employees, 15 acute-care hospitals and thousands of physicians across Colorado, Wyoming and western Nebraska. 

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