Students funded through $1.5M PNM scholarship
(Farmington, NM) – Through a $1.5M PNM scholarship contribution, a special joint ceremony was held on Wednesday, May 3, where Dr. Buu Nygren, President of the Navajo Nation and leaders with PNM, San Juan College, and the Navajo Technical University honored 15 PNM-Navajo Nation Workforce Training scholarship recipients who will be graduating during the 2022-2023 school year.
The program is designed to ensure that New Mexico and the Four Corners area have the trained workforce needed for existing and emerging jobs, and that members of the Navajo Nation are well positioned to meet the need. The PNM-Navajo Nation Workforce Training Initiative was established in 2013 when PNM and the Navajo Nation partnered with Navajo Technical University in Crownpoint, New Mexico, and San Juan College in Farmington, New Mexico, to develop and administer the program on behalf of PNM and the Navajo Nation.
PNM will contribute $1.5 million in scholarships through the Navajo Technical University, San Juan College, and the PNM American Indian Engineering Program that will support Navajo students through 2024.
The 2022-2023 PNM-Navajo Nation Workforce Training Program scholarship graduates from San Juan College and Navajo Technical University are:
San Juan College
1) Gilbert Barber, Jr-Diesel Technology, AAS
2) Andriana Begay-Instrumentation & Controls, AAS
3) Cody Begay-Diesel Technology, AAS
4) Jerrick Billy-Automotive Technology, AAS
5) Farnell Charley-Instrumentation & Controls, AAS
6) Michael Diswood-Instrumentation & Controls, Certificate
7) Cody Paul-Instrumentation & Controls, AAS
8) Cody Paul-Instrumentation & Controls, AAS
8) Shareana Wisdom-Automotive Technology, AAS
Navajo Technical University
9) Emmanuel Holiday-Electrical Trades Certificate
10) Chelsie Whitewater-Biology, BS
11) Darlene Wilson-Biology, BS & Environmental Science & Natural Resources, AAS
12) Wynona Wilson-Information Technology, BAS
13) Benveno Brian Yazzie-Information Technology, BAS
14) Sky Autumn Yazzie-Information Technology, BAS
15) Trudy Yazzie-Culinary Arts Certificate
“When we initiated the PNM-Navajo Nation Workforce Training Program, PNM recognized the criticality of a knowledgeable workforce,” said Ron Darnell, PNM Senior Vice President of Public Policy. “In the coming years, the Four Corners region will confront unique prospects and challenges, and these aspiring learners have seized this scholarship as a means to make a tangible impact on their lives and communities by attaining education that may have eluded them otherwise. Their pursuit of education exemplifies their desire to lead, and they are setting a precedent for future generations to prosper from the opportunities they create.”
“Thank you, PNM, for your longstanding commitment to our Navajo students. The Nation has always been an energy Nation. These are the fields and trades that will help move our Nation forward,” said Dr. Buu Nygren, President of the Navajo Nation. “You are more than capable,” Nygren said to students. “Continue to be ambitious and work hard.”
“The scholarship partnership between PNM and Navajo Technical University represents a significant investment in the future of our students,” said Elmer Guy, Ph.D., Navajo Technical University President. “With this support, our students will have greater access to the education and training they need to succeed in the workforce and mark meaningful contributions to their communities.”
“We truly appreciate the financial support that PNM has provided to the PNM-Navajo Nation Workforce Training scholarship recipients for the past ten years,” said Dr. Toni Hopper Pendergrass, President of San Juan College. “This program has helped our students pay their educational expenses and contribute to the betterment of our community as graduates of San Juan College.”
“My number one goal was to graduate,” said Jerrick Billy who earned his AAS in Automotive Technology from San Juan College. “I would like to work at a Ford dealership. Thank you, PNM, from the bottom of my heart – your support made a huge difference.”
To date, the PNM-Navajo National Workforce Training Scholarship program has awarded more than 700 scholarships and produced more than 200 Navajo graduates earning their trade certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees.