OUR ECOSYSTEM

The Colorado Springs School of Technology (CSST) is located in the center of a regional ecosystem made up of industry, government, and education. Professionals from industry, education, and government are uniting to create a high school that will be uniquely connected and co-located with this ecosystem at UCCS Cybersecurity Center. Nine Colorado Springs organizations came together to apply for the NSF Regional Innovation Engines Grant. Those organizations are: US Air Force Academy, The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS), Pikes Peak State College, The National Cybersecurity Center, The Space ISAC, The Space Foundation, Exponential Impact, Catalyst Campus and the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC. Our goal is that there are dual enrollment opportunities for CSST students with UCCS and Pikes Peak State College. All of these organizations are represented on the CSST Board of Directors. This ecosystem of organizations won a “Type 1” grant of $1 million, and is in the process of applying for the “Type 2” grant of $160 million. Critical to the goals of the NSF grant is cultivating regional talent and a skilled technical workforce. The NSF promotes the creation of quality STEM-based education for K-12. CSST represents the power and collaboration of this ecosystem. There is no other opportunity like this for students in our country.