What do you get when you combine the former eBay headquarters and a forward-thinking school district? A game-changing career-focused learning center.

Canyons School District this year closed on the purchase of the eBay campus in Draper with plans to transform it into a technical education center — strategically located in the heart of Silicon Slopes and adjacent The Point Innovation Community.

The forward-thinking purchase — which “Utah Business Magazine” declared, “could reshape career education in Utah” — was a turning point for Canyons, capping a school year filled with national honors and record-setting student achievements.

During the 2024-2025 school year, Canyons’ students, staff, and schools earned national acclaim, from sports and debate championships to National Blue Ribbon School status and top awards from the International National High School Model United Nations Conference. Students scientists launched an experiment aboard the International Space Station. Student athletes clinched nine team state championships, and 46 individual state titles. The Class of 2025 amassed more than $50 million in college scholarship offers, among them National Merit Scholarship and Sterling Scholar winners.

It was a big year with a bold vision for the decades to come. Here’s just a glimpse at major milestones achieved in 2024-2025:

June

• In June, 2024, Canyons School District joined the statewide effort to improve air quality and protect high school athletes whose airways are still developing. Each of Canyons’ five traditional high schools now have sensors installed so school administrators and coaches can have more data to help them determine whether students can safely be outside.

August

• For 25 years, Connie Crosby helped thousands of children and their families in need, retiring after a stellar career as CSD’s McKinney Vento Liaison. Her legacy of giving will continue as the Midvale Resource Center is now known as the Connie Crosby Family Resource Center.
• In August, the District purchased the 36-acre eBay campus in Draper to serve as the home for a new high-tech learning center focused on preparing high school students for the high-demand jobs of the future. The Canyons Board of Education and Administration target fall 2027 for the opening of the innovation center.

September

• The Bella Vista Tigers continue to excel academically, earning their school bragging rights as a 2025 National Blue Ribbon School. Bella Vista joins just three other schools in Utah to earn this prestigious S. Department of Education honor.
• As absenteeism plagues schools across the country, new data from Intermountain Health’s school-based telehealth program suggests telehealth may be part of the cure. Canyons pilot tested the program in 17 schools for students and employees.

October

• Making a hole-in-one is a momentous achievement for any golfer, but it in front of hundreds of people, live on ESPN, and in front of Utah golf phenom Tony Finau? That’s how Albion Middle sixth-grader Emery Johnson scored his first ever hole-in-one in mid-October.
• For two-years in a row, Corner Canyon golfers claimed the title of state champions. The Chargers beat the Lone Peak Knights with a team score of 538 and senior Bowen Mauss’ score of 130 is the fourth best in state history.

November

• Not many people can say their science project has been aboard the International Space Station, but five Hillcrest High juniors can. Their project, “Nematodes to the Rescue” was in the payload aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which blasted off from Kennedy Space Center in November.
• Eastmont Middle School earned a rare distinction, becoming one of two schools in Utah to be named an AVID National Demonstration School. The designation signals the school’s student achievement and commitment to college- and career-readiness.
• The Corner Canyon Chargers are now five-time state champions in football. Junior Bronson Evans took the helm of the Chargers just six weeks into the season after starting quarterback Helaman Casuga was injured. The Chargers beat the Lone Peak Knights with a final score of 30-27.

December

• Just before the Winter Recess, students at Draper Park Middle School had the opportunity to see what it feels like to be in a “Shark Tank” The event was featured on national television; CNBC contacted state education officials looking for an example of innovation in education.
• Renderings were revealed to the Jordan High School community of the $23.2 million construction and renovation project planned for the home of the Beetdiggers. The Jordan High project is being undertaken with funds from a $45.8 million lease-revenue bond approved in February by the Board of Education.
• Two graduates represented Canyons on the national stage, competing for the title of Miss America. Miss Utah, Paris Matthews from Brighton High, and Miss Washington D.C., Katie Ann Powell from Hillcrest High both competed, performing admirably at the contest.

January

• The Canyons Board of Education started the new year by welcoming two new members to its ranks and the return of a third. Taking their Oaths of Office on Jan. 7 were: Jackson Lewis, the new representative for District No. 1 and the youngest elected official in Utah; Katie Dahle, a businesswoman and community advocate who will represent District No. 3; and Holly Neibaur who won re-election to the District’s seven-member governing body and will serve District No. 7 for another four-year term.
• Brighton High Bengals’ longtime tennis coach was named one of the top 24 prep coaches in the country by the National Federation of State High School Associations. Natalie Meyer, who has led Bengal girls tennis teams for 21 years, is one of the 10 prep coaches chosen as a 2023-2024 National Coach of the Year for girls’ athletics.
• Midvale Middle’s ConnieTrue Simons received statewide accolades for her work with the Trojans. The Utah Association of Secondary School Principals named Simons UASSP’s 2025 Utah Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year.

February

• Hillcrest Drill continued their reign as the state’s 4A drill team champions. Hillcrest won both the Military and Show categories, plus second in Dance, to win the overall trophy. The win is the school’s ninth state title in drill.
• Corner Canyon High’s cheer squad was dubbed by Varsity Spirit as “Canyon Queens” in the two-episode national highlight of the Chargers’ dedication. Varsity Spirit cameras followed along as the Chargers competed yet again on the national stage.
• Gretchen Zaitzeff, the District’s Library Specialist was recognized with Operation Literacy’s “Book Hero Award” for all she does to promote children’s literacy. Zaitzeff was even interviewed by a documentary film crew who highlighted Canyons work with the News Literacy Project.
• In boys wrestling, Corner Canyon High’s Kaydon Williams captured his third state title in the 6A heavyweight division. He joins teammate Laimana Fager and Hillcrest’s Moroni Mahe as the Canyons District wrestlers to capture state championships in their weight classifications and divisions.
• In girls wrestling, Beetdigger Abbey was the 4A state champion in the 105-pound weight classification. She was among nine Canyons District grapplers to claim 46 individual trophies at the state level.
• The Alta High School cheer squad repeated as the champions in the Varsity Show Intermediate Super category at the USA Spirit Nationals in Anaheim, Calif. USA Spirit Nationals draws teams across the West Coast to compete in categories for mascots, song, pom, pep flag and, of course, cheer. The Hawks performed an electric number with tumbling, stunts, and dance to claim the trophy for the second consecutive year.
• The Alta Hawks soared to first place with their stunning performance, while the Brighton Bengals showed amazing heart placing 7th in a tough field at the annual Winterguard competition.
• Draper Park Middle’s Assistant Facilities Manager, Andy Markus, was named the National Education Support Professional of the Year by the National Education Association.
• This year, 36 students within Canyons School District gained access to assistive communication devices with new iPads and software procured by the CSD’s Special Education Department. The iPads are part of a new initiative to provide resources and training for teachers and staff throughout the District, particularly those who are part of special education classes.

March

• With the help of a Canyons Education Foundation grant, Albion Middle School’s Stephanie Nasser and Stephanie Kourianos were able to bring award-winning author Daniel Nayeri to Utah for a two-day immersive experience centered around his book, “The Many Assassinations of Samir the Seller of Dreams.” Their “community read” initiative broke down subject barriers and created a powerful community-building experience that taught empathy through shared reading.
• Hillcrest High’s robotics team snagged the Impact Award, the most prestigious honor at the 2025 Utah FIRST Regional Robotics Competition, securing a spot at the world championships. Alta High’s Icarus Innovated team also scored some hardware, bringing home the Team Sustainability Award.
• The Brighton Bengals once again brought home top awards from the International National High School Model United Nations Conference held in New York City. Twenty Brighton Model UN students joined thousands of other students from across the globe and came home with top marks.

April

• A number of the District’s high school seniors were honored as 2025 Sterling Scholars with one Canyons students taking home the highest honors. Xiaocheng Ai, a senior at Corner Canyon was named the 2025 Deseret News/KSL General Sterling Scholar, leading out over 167 finalists.
• Corner Canyon’s and Hillcrest’s theater departments brought home first place in the 2024-2025 State Theatre Meets. Both schools achieved first place overall sweepstakes with the Huskies also bringing home first place with their one-act play, “An Enemy of the People.”
• Four Canyons District students brought home top marks from the National PTA’S Reflections Contest, competing against 850 student entries from across 40 states. Piper Brammer from Willow Canyon Elementary received the Award of Merit for her entry, “Pieces of a Heron.” Zachary Ence from Canyon View Elementary was given the Award of Excellence for his piece, “Shadows of Truth.” Kiera Monsen from Albion Middle received the Award of Merit for her piece entitled, “D-don’t give up. “Alta High’s Lucy Denzer was given the Award of Excellence for her piece, “Beauty through Distortion.”
• This year, the Corner Canyon Chargers brought home the 6A title in Speech and Debate for the fourth year, with the Alta Hawks taking second in 5A. Both teams are now hard at work, preparing to go to nationals in Des Moines June 15-20. The Chargers and Hawks will be taking part in history as this year marks the 100th anniversary of the national tournament.
• Midvale Elementary’s Lucìa de la Cruz Rodriguez was named the 2025 Canyons Teacher of the Year. Maestra de la Cruz, who moved to Utah from Mexico to teach in the Spanish-English DLI program, is known for her positive influence, sense of humor, and classroom management skills.

May

• Canyons School District students ended the school year strong, with 59 student-athletesat Alta, Brighton, Corner Canyon, Hillcrest and Jordan high schools earning Academic All-State honors for the 2024-2025 Spring Sport season. Adding the spring winners makes 88 Canyons students receiving the prestigious academic-excellence award.
• Canyons Nursing Specialist Jen Gerrard was awarded the 2024 School Nurse Administrator of the Year by the Utah School Nurse Association. For years, Gerrard has spearheaded District nursing initiatives, including the pilot test for a telehealth solution to student absenteeism.
• For the second consecutive year, Jeremy Klung, Canyons School District’s longtime bus driver, has taken first place in Utah’s 2025 Roadeo Competition. This year, more than 30 bus drivers took part in the competition, which was held at Canyons School District. Klung will once again head to Austin in June to compete in the international school bus driver safety competition. Klung placed third last year.
• Canyons District athletes dominated the Utah State Track & Field Championships, bringing home 12 state titles across the 4A, 5A, and 6A divisions.
• Alta High School’s boys soccer team bested reigning champs Wasatch High in a 3-2 thriller to win the 5A Soccer Championships. The edge-of-your-seat final, played at America First Field, was Coach Mackenzie Hyer’s 101st win.
• The Brighton High Bengals overcame a three-goal deficit in the fourth quarter of the 5A boys lacrosse final to win the 2025 state title. It was their second consecutive win.
• The Corner Canyon Chargers extended their championship-winning streak at Zions Bank Stadium. The 6A Lacrosse team captured the school’s fifth consecutive state title win by besting Davis 9-7. The victory pushed the Chargers’s win-loss record to 93-6 in the past five years.
• This year, approximately 2,750 seniors received their hard-earned diplomas in front of the Canyons community. The Class of 2025 includes National Merit Scholars, Sterling Scholars, and state champions in multiple sports and activities. This year’s seniors notched some $50 million in scholarship offers and will be attending such top-tier schools as Harvard, Julliard, Boston University, West Point, Stanford, Berkley, the University of Utah, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. Graduates from CSD also are joining every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. Congratulations to the Class of 2025.