Before she even started high school, Aidyn Ragan had already spent more time at Pueblo Community College than some of its students.
Her grandmother, Barb Simms, has worked at PCC for nearly 30 years and Ragan was a frequent visitor to the Pueblo campus as she grew up.
“I realized at a young age how the staff are so welcoming and will try and help you through anything. I loved being surrounded by the amazing people at PCC,” she said.
Her trips to campus included some classes at the popular Kids’ College that takes place every summer.
“I loved the welding classes,” Ragan said. “It was fun, and I realized that I was also pretty decent at it.”
For some, it might have been an experience that amounted to little beyond a pleasant childhood memory. For Ragan, that introduction to welding became the foundation for her planned career.
She started taking welding classes part-time at PCC last year as an Early College (concurrent enrollment) student. Concurrent enrollment allows students to take college courses while still in high school. Tuition costs are covered by a student’s school district, potentially saving families thousands of dollars while students get a head start on their college careers.
Ragan is a senior at Rye High School, about 30 miles south of Pueblo, and commutes to PCC. This year, she attends college full-time. She balances that with her commitments as a member of the volleyball and soccer teams at Rye. She expects to graduate in 2025 with her associate degree in welding.
“The (instructors are) so good at teaching the skills – but also teaching how it’s going to be once I get a job,” she said. “A big part of me choosing the welding program was that the staff is not only knowledgeable but also willing to help me with whatever I need. Having that support system, in my opinion, is critical to students not only succeeding at PCC but also excelling in their lives after college.”
