Rising Boulder High senior Ricardo Moreno is doing everything he can to become the first in his family to go to college, including earning high grades and playing football to help him qualify for scholarships.

So, he said, signing up for the Boulder Valley School District’s Grad Plus Leadership Academy was just one more way to get ahead as he works toward his plan of studying aerospace engineering. He’s learning skills in the summer program that include how to look people in the eye, offer a firm handshake, answer common interview questions and collaborate with others. The program also includes an internship with the school district’s operations team.

“I want to do the best I can,” he said. “I want to go to college. I want to do anything that can help me in any way. I’m learning skills I

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