Adams 12 Celebrates Bollman Expansion Groundbreaking

Bond-funded project will expand career and technical education opportunities for high school students across the district

Adams 12 Five Star Schools celebrated the groundbreaking for a 36,000-square-foot expansion of FutureForward at Bollman on Monday, Sept. 21. The project, funded through the voter-approved 2024 bond, responds to growing demand and long waitlists by expanding access to career and technical education (CTE) programs for high school students across the district.

Students, staff, district leaders and community members gathered for the ceremony, which featured remarks from Bollman Principal Janet Renden, Bollman graduate Liliana Friedenson, Superintendent Chris Gdowski and Thornton Mayor Jan Kulmann.

The project includes a two-story addition with new and expanded learning spaces for esthetics and barbering, dental assisting, video editing, auto body repair and culinary arts. The expansion will also feature a public-facing salon where students can gain experience serving community members and a new CTE yard supporting hands-on and outdoor learning. Once it opens to students in 2028, the expanded space will support up to 500 additional students.

From right to left: Superintendent Chris Gdowski, Bollman grad Liliana Friedenson and Bollman Principal Janet Renden

At the event, Gdowski highlighted how the expansion supports Colorado’s statewide focus on the “Big Three,” which emphasizes opportunities to help high school students earn college credit, obtain industry-recognized credentials and participate in work-based learning experiences.

“At places like Bollman, you can do all three,” Gdowski said. “You can get such a head start on your life by not just thinking about your future but by actively taking steps to prepare.”

Friedenson, a 2025 Bollman graduate who’s returned to the campus as an extern instructor for the ProStart culinary program, shared how her experiences helped shape her career aspirations.

“Some students may arrive already knowing exactly what they want to do. Others may discover their direction while they are here,” Friedenson said. “I am grateful for everything Bollman gave me as a student, and I am excited for the opportunity to pay that experience forward.”

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