July 2026 | Vol. 36 Iss. 7
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Murray
Liberty closing?
Elementary could shutter as enrollment declines Page 7
Utility divide
Understanding who bears the cost for these services Page 20
Murray High to house innovative APEX Healthcare Academy By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com Murray School District secured a $13-million grant to build a handson healthcare center to introduce students to nursing, radiology and behavioral health.
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urray School District has been awarded a $13-million Catalyst Center Grant from the Utah State Board of Education to build the Applied Professional Education Experience, or APEX, Center on Murray High’s campus. The healthcare-focused training center will connect students to careers in Utah’s medical industry. The Center will offer the first Radiology Technician Assistant program in the nation to high school students, district officials say, and amongst the first in Utah to offer the Behavioral Health Assistant program at the secondary level. The APEX Center also will offer the Certified Nursing Assistant program. “This grant is a visionary investment in our students and the future of Utah’s workforce,” said Murray District Superintendent Jennifer Covington. “By placing this facility on our campus, we are moving beyond traditional medical instruction to provide a direct, physical bridge to a career. We are deeply grateful to the State Board and our partners for recognizing the potential of our students to lead in these critical fields.” The project is a partnership between Murray District, Intermountain Health, Salt Lake Community College and Talent Ready Utah. As Murray High is close to Intermountain Medical Center, the APEX Center will give students access to hands-on medical training, industry mentors and certifications and college credit while still in high school. The 11,500-square-foot building will include four classrooms and four labs. Construction is expected to begin later this year, with the Center opening in fall 2027, the
Ground is expected to be broken later this year on the APEX Center, which, through a partnership, will provide students with healthcare education and hands-on training. (Image courtesy of Murray School District)
same time as the new wing and the transition of ninth-graders to the high school. It will be built west of the campus tennis courts. District leaders say the APEX Center is being constructed in response to major healthcare workforce shortages in Utah and nationwide. Demand for nursing assistants, behavioral health workers and radiologic professionals continues to rise as the population ages and healthcare needs expand. “The Healthcare Academy represents a permanent talent pipeline,” said Chantel Olsen, Murray District’s career and
technical education program coordinator. “By offering a Radiology Technician Assistant program at the high school level — a national first — we are proving that Murray students are ready to meet the challenges of 21st-century medicine.” Students enrolled in the APEX Center will work with mentors from Intermountain Health and earn college credits through SLCC’s programs. Administrators say students may continue their education while working in the field. “By uniting the academic excellence
of Murray City School District and Salt Lake Community College, with the clinical expertise of medical professionals from Intermountain Health, we are doing more than launching a program — we are building a bridge between the classroom and the clinic,” said Murray District Assistant Superintendent Scott Wihongi. “Together, the APEX Center will empower the next generation of healthcare leaders to turn their passion into practice and their potential into a healthier future for our entire community.” l