Celebrating a Year of Partnership and Progress for Learners and Earners in the San Luis Valley

July 21, 2025

The Attainment Network was founded on a simple belief: partnership drives progress. Even so, we are amazed by what the San Luis Valley Career-Connected Partnership has accomplished in just one year. 

 

Last week we gathered in Alamosa at Trinidad State College – Valley Campus with all of our partners to celebrate our accomplishments over the last year. 

 

Our colleagues from Adams State University, Trinidad State College, San Luis Valley Health, Valley Wide Health Systems, Boys & Girls Club, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment and many others heard firsthand from learners and earners whose education and career journeys are being transformed through this collaboration.   

 

Meet a few of those learners and earners: 

  • Sunny Garcia – mother of a five-week-old infant – received support for books and nursing supplies while attending Adams State University to obtain her bachelor of science degree in nursing. She now works as a registered nurse at San Luis Valley Health and plans to start a doctorate program in nursing this fall. 
  • Nicole Peyer faced a major setback when her car broke down during her first semester in the nursing program at Adams State University. With help from partners, she secured reliable transportation to continue school and work. Today, she holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing and is working as a registered nurse in the Medical/Surgical unit at San Luis Valley Health. 
  • Ronny Herrera, a father of two, received resources and support from partners while completing a master’s degree in clinical mental health. He plans to serve the youth in the Valley as a mental health counselor. 

 

These stories are powerful, but they represent just a fraction of what this partnership has achieved. In its first year, the collaboration has: 

  • Expanded CNA and Medical Assistant training programs into 13 of the 14 school districts in the valley, with 9 of those offering full, standalone programs.   
  • Empowered more than 24 students with hands-on experience through internships, training in the mobile lab, and other work-based learning programs.   
  • Equipped 73 learners with an industry-recognized credential 
  • Supported 15 adult learners in advancing their education – 6 of whom have already graduated from their programs. 


And the momentum continues! A mobile lab donated by SLV Health will travel the Valley this fall, giving students insight into careers in healthcare and other high-value careers as well as providing CNA and MA students with access to a clinic for hands-on training. 

 

And thanks to virtual reality headsets from Transfr – donated by the LOR Foundation and the Colorado Department of Housing and Finance – students across the valley can explore healthcare and other in-demand careers right in their own classrooms. 


What the San Luis Valley Career-Connected Partnership has accomplished is the future of rural workforce development. This framework for cross-sector collaboration can be used to meet critical workforce needs across rural Colorado – and that’s exactly what you’ll see in the future.   

RECENT ARTICLES

San Luis Valley Healthcare Pathways Partnership Meets All Goals

July 13, 2026
Partners are applying the same employer-driven approach to other high-demand careers

New Sessions Added to the Career-Connected L/Earning Conference

July 9, 2026
Dive into Colorado’s Efforts to Build a More Connected Education-to-Career Ecosystem

On the Move in July

July 2, 2026
As our nation celebrates 250 years, we're inspired to keep building toward a future where opportunity is within reach for every learner and earner. Throughout July, The Attainment Network team will join partners across Colorado and the country to strengthen career-connected learning, expand economic mobility, and build systems that help every learner and earner thrive. Here’s where you can find us this July: 🗓️ July 1 🔹 Colorado Space Institute Space Educator Bootcamp Celebration – Castle Rock Emily will join education, industry, and workforce partners to celebrate the Colorado Space Institute’s Space Educator Bootcamp and explore how educators are bringing space science and STEM learning into classrooms across Colorado. 🗓️ July 10 🔹 Regional Accountable Entity 1 San Luis Valley Programs Improvement Advisory Council Meeting – Alamosa Wes will join healthcare providers, community organizations, and regional leaders working together to strengthen healthcare programs and address the social determinants of health across the San Luis Valley. 🗓️ July 13-15 🔹 CU Badge Summit – Boulder Stefan will attend this national convening focused on the future of digital credentials and how they can expand learning and career opportunities. 🗓️ July 14-16 🔹 College Board District Success Network Conference – Denver Rana will serve on a panel exploring how schools can help students connect classroom learning to future college and career opportunities. 🗓️ July 16 🔹 Postsecondary Talent Development System Transition Advisory Committee – Denver The Transition Advisory Committee, including our own Michelle Camacho Liu, reconvenes to continue developing recommendations to guide Colorado's new unified postsecondary talent development system. 🗓️ July 20-21 🔹 ECMC Research Gathering: From Questions to Change – Minneapolis Stefan will join ECMC Foundation partners from across the country to explore how research, policy, and practice can work together to drive meaningful systems change. 🗓️ July 23 🔹 Construction Pathway Meeting – Alamosa Ashley and Wes will reconvene with education, workforce, and industry partners in the San Luis Valley to continue building a shared strategy for strengthening construction career pathways across the San Luis Valley. 🗓️ July 30 🔹 Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants Summer of Fun – Colorado Springs Michelle Payne will connect with accounting professionals, educators, and employers to explore trends in the profession and opportunities to expand mentorship and internship pathways. If you’ll be at one of these events or working on something similar, please reach out. We’d love to hear from you.