RRCC Helped Him Find His Path Combining Curiosity, Science, and Passion for People
Bradley Harz took advantage of many opportunities at RRCC, and has now transferred to Colorado State University.
February 17, 2026 – Author: Michaele Charles, special to RRCC
Curiosity, Science, and Passion for People
Bradley Harz moved to Colorado in 2020 seeking a change and a fresh start.
The Michigan native had overcome some personal challenges, which sparked an interest in philosophy and prompted him to reflect more deeply on his own journey. That process also pushed Bradley to think about going to college for the first time.
“When I got to Denver, I researched affordable schools and was most drawn to Red Rocks Community College,” Bradley says. A nature lover with diverse interests—from biomechanisms to environmental issues—he enrolled in classes in 2022. “I spent a few years exploring a lot of areas at RRCC and found that I enjoy computational algorithms, systems, nature, and math. I started trying to find a path that would combine several of those things.”
Turning Academic Exploration Into Direction
Bradley completed the Associate of Science at RRCC and started coursework in the Associate of Engineering Sciences program. In January 2026, he transferred to Colorado State University, where he will earn a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering. “I feel blessed to have taken some of the engineering classes I need at Red Rocks Community College,” Bradley says. “I’m very excited about this opportunity to continue my education at CSU.”
During his time at RRCC, Bradley had several valuable experiences, including working on a NASA Space Grant Robotics team, where he led the coding sub-team and contributed to award-winning projects in robotics navigation and lunar agriculture research.
Perhaps the highlight of his time at Red Rocks was being selected to participate in the 2025 Research Experience for Community College Students (RECCS), a paid, nine-week internship for students from Colorado and several surrounding states to do independent research in environmental science or geoscience. Students are mentored by someone from the University of Colorado Boulder’s Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) Center for Education, Engagement and Evaluation.
A Convergence of Passions in Wildfire Research
Bradley’s RECCS mentor is a postdoctoral associate in the Earth Lab at CU, which researches wildlife behavior across the Western U.S. Under her guidance, Bradley examined the relationship between a wildfire’s fire radiative energy and differenced normalized burn ratio.
“I was so happy to get into the RECCS program,” says Bradley. “I felt privileged to work with the Earth Lab and meet all these other bright students.” He presented his research project—titled “Burn Bright, Scar Deep? Comparing Satellite Fire Radiative Energy to Ecosystem Impact”—at the 2025 RECCS symposium in July at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research in Boulder.
Expanding Horizons in Ecological Restoration
Bradley also attended the 11th World Conference on Ecological Restoration, held September 30 to October 4, 2025, at the Colorado Convention Center. “I went on my own to start networking and learn about big issues in the field,” he says. “It opened my eyes to career ideas beyond ecology, like environmental engineering, which is what I’m studying now.”
After he graduates from CSU, Bradley hopes to use his education to support marginalized communities through ecological restoration and disaster response. “I want to use my understanding of satellite imagery in restoration work to better serve those communities,” he says.
A Springboard to Discovery
RECCS exceeded Bradley’s expectations for an applied learning experience outside the classroom—and helped shape his next personal project. As a member of Red Rocks’ Trefny Honor’s program, Bradley planned to examine biodiversity degradation around Commerce City’s industry complex using satellite data and other methods for his capstone. “This is important to me, and I still plan to further my work over the summer even though I’m not at Red Rocks anymore,” he says.
As he transitions to CSU, Bradley credits Red Rocks Community College with providing the guidance and encouragement he needed to begin the next chapter. “Red Rocks really supports anyone who wants to succeed,” he says. “There are so many pathways and opportunities there. I came in with dreams but needed help figuring out the next steps, and I got that at RRCC. The professors genuinely care and want to help students achieve their full potential.”