Work is underway to expand Cherry Creek Innovation Campus, a high school designed to help students learn the skills they’ll need for future careers.
Last November, voters approved a bond to expand the CCIC.
For construction worker David MacGregor, a first year carpenter apprentice at GH Phipps, the school is a familiar spot.
“It’s pretty easy for the most part, thanks to CCIC,” said McGregor, a CCIC graduate.
MacGregor has been working construction for a few months now, helping expand the campus.
“I believe this part where we’re standing is going to be a welding shop,” MacGregor said.
This is a future he built for himself after studying construction just a few feet away. His former classmates are now watching his career.
“I think they think it’s a little weird,” MacGregor said. “I think it’s kind of fun because I can be like ‘I’m building your education now.'”
“It’s awesome,” said Mike Degitis, construction teacher at CCIC. “We get to see David on site every day. We throw on our PPE as a class and we get a tour of the job site and we see David at work, and every single time I point to him and I say, ‘guys, this could be you next year.'”
Degitis helps students like MacGregor learn the skills they need to jump right into their careers.
“They don’t want to leave. It’s that good,” Degitis said.
Degitis said the programs at CCIC are so popular, they’re always full. Voters in November approved bond funding to expand CCIC’s campus and programming.
“It’s almost doubling in size, both in terms of square footage and students,” Degitis said.
The work MacGregor and the GH Phipps team are doing on his former school will allow CCIC to serve 70% more students and add 10 new career pathways, setting even more students up for success.
“We tell them if they’re not getting a job, it’s on them,” Degitis said. “It’s because there are so many jobs out there that all they got to do is ask and show up with a little bit of professionalism, show up on time, and they’re hired. The companies are just banging down our doors asking for these kids.”
They’re future careers MacGregor is happy to help build now for others.
“Yes, it’s fun,” MacGregor said.
Construction on CCIC 2.0 is expected to be wrapped up and ready to welcome in students for new career pathways by August.
CCIC is a CAPS Network affiliate program in the Denver, Colorado area.
The original article, published by 9 News / KUSA-TV can be found here.
