Elevate Awards Foundations of the Future Grant to MHS Biomedical Program

Elevate is proud to announce that Montrose High School’s Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Biomedical Science program has been selected as a recipient of Elevate’s $10,000 Foundations of the Future Grant. The award will fund the purchase of six high-performance laptop computers to support technology-driven learning in the district’s Health Science Career Pathway.

The PLTW Biomedical Science program has over 300 students enrolled this year for hands-on, college-level coursework that prepares them for high-demand careers in healthcare, nursing, and biomedical research. Students engage in internet-based labs, biomedical simulations, and digital research using advanced software tools.

Earlier this year, Montrose High School PLTW Biomedical Science instructor Emarae Garcia experienced firsthand the impact of the program. After finding herself in the emergency room for an unexpected appendectomy, she recognized the EMT working quickly to stabilize her; it was one of her former Project Lead The Way students. Garcia had introduced the IV technique and taught that same student how to perform his very first IV as a freshman in high school. In that moment, the student medically attended to his former teacher with the skills and confidence sparked in the Biomedical Science program course he had taken all those years ago with his teacher.

“This full-circle moment reminded me why this work matters,” said Garcia. “Our students are not only learning, but they’re also thriving. The Biomedical Science program gives them the skills, confidence, and purpose to make a real difference in our community.”

Kent Blackwell, Chief Administrative Officer at Elevate Internet, said the grant reflects Elevate’s commitment to investing in the next generation of innovators and community leaders. “At Elevate, we believe in giving back to help build the technology and skills that will power our future,” said Blackwell. “By supporting programs like Montrose High School’s Biomedical Science pathway, we’re helping prepare students for high-demand jobs in healthcare.”

Partnerships with Colorado Mesa University, Technical College of the Rockies, and Montrose Regional Health strengthen the program by providing concurrent enrollment options, mentorships, and real-world healthcare experiences. Students will directly benefit from the upgraded technology, many of whom come from low-income or first-generation college backgrounds.

The Montrose Community Foundation administers Elevate’s Foundations of the Future grant program. The grant supports organizations that make a positive impact on the community’s quality of life through the use of online tools or technology. To learn more about Elevate, please visit elevateinternet.com.