Beehive Science and Technology Academy announced it has been awarded a Fiscal Year 2027 APEX Implementation Grant by the Utah State Board of Education, according to a September 1 statement. The grant, provided under Utah House Bill 447, will fund the Beehive Science and Technology APEX Center, a facility designed to provide high school students with hands-on, professional work opportunities through partnering organizations and businesses.
The APEX Center is scheduled to open in August 2027 and will be built within the school's existing campus in Sandy, Utah. The center will serve students in grades 9 through 12 across four specific career pathways: Engineering and Robotics, Business and Digital Media, Life and Health Sciences, and Digital Technology.
Beehive Academy will operate the center using the Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) model, a national network of over 120 programs across 22 states. According to High School Principal Dr. Halis Kablan, the platform is designed to transition students from traditional classroom learners into junior professionals by having them solve real-world problems for outside partners.
Currently, fifteen partners have signed letters of collaboration across various fields, including aerospace and aviation technology, advanced manufacturing, IT and cybersecurity, and healthcare and clinical services. Other sectors represented include engineering design, marketing and digital media, software and education technology, and outdoor and consumer products. A regional Chamber of Commerce will also provide access to a wide set of local businesses.
Academic collaboration will involve several professors from Utah State University and the University of Utah, who will mentor student researchers and assist with curriculum development in fields such as computer science and biological and chemical engineering. Additionally, Salt Lake Community College will provide concurrent enrollment and college credit opportunities.
Executive Director Hanifi Oguz stated that the academy is building on its 20-year foundation of STEM instruction by bringing the professional world into the school. The goal is to ensure students graduate with industry certifications, delivered work, and professional working habits. Beehive Academy is a tuition-free public charter school that received its third Platinum Level STEM School Designation in 2026.
