University of San Juan and Navajo Tech University Recognize PNM Scholarship Winners

Navajo President Boo Nigren attended the PNM Workforce Training Program Scholarship Reception at the Energy School on May 5, along with officials from the New Mexico State Public Service Company and the University of San Juan.

Scholarship recipients honored at the reception were alumni of the University of San Juan and the Navajo Institute of Technology.

Gail Dean, Executive Director of the University of San Juan Foundation, welcomed attendees. Ricky Nez, president of the 25th Annual Navajo Nation Council, led the participants in prayer.

“PNM generously offered to extend funding for an additional $500,000 over the next five years in 2019 to provide additional scholarships to even more students,” said the dean. said.

PNM offered 15 scholarships for the 2022-23 academic year, eight of which were awarded to University of San Juan students and seven to Navajo Polytechnic University students.

Since 2013, PNM has provided 555 scholarships to Native American students at the University of San Juan.

“These students are enrolled in programs such as health sciences, sciences, mathematics and engineering, information technology, and energy,” said the dean. “We are extremely proud of the fact that the University of San Juan ranks fourth among community colleges in the United States for the number of Native American graduates who earn associate degrees.”

Dr. Elmer Guy, President Navajo Institute of Technologythanked PNM, saying that NTU students have benefited greatly from the scholarships as they have studied biology, chemistry and other fields.

According to Professor Guy, among all tribal colleges, NTU is the only one offering all four-year engineering degrees offering engineering, electrical, environmental science and natural resources, mechanical engineering and environmental engineering. It is said that there is.

NTU also offers master’s and doctoral degrees. A program on Navajo culture and language sustainability. NTU is the first of the 37 tribal colleges in the United States to offer doctoral programs.

Guy said that NTU certified by Engineering and Technology Certification BoardIt offers internship opportunities to students from Sandia Laboratories and Los Alamos Laboratories, Boeing, PNM, and other leading companies that require ABET accreditation for internship eligibility.

Last year, Sandia National Laboratories hired its first electrical engineering student from NTU, and Honeywell International recently hired an NTU student as well. Guy said Los Alamos National Laboratory has invited seven students to intern this summer.

Guy said about 85% of NTU students are eligible for federal Pell grants, but that alone doesn’t cover all costs. “The support that PNM and other scholarships provide really helps us keep our jobs,” said Guy, adding that the scholarship “will help us pay for classes and gas.” “Purchase” concerns have been alleviated, he added.

“Having an educated workforce is very important for the Indian community,” Guy said. He added that when one person gets an education, a whole community is built. He encouraged his students to believe in themselves and know that they were “smart enough” to succeed.

Guy thanked Rep. Anthony Allison (D-San Juan County) for his help in obtaining resources for the dual credit program. He said SJC and NTU serve the highest number of double-credit students in New Mexico.

Alumni of the University of San Juan PNM Scholarships are: Gilbert Barber Jr., Diesel Tech. Andriana Bigey, Measurement and Control. Kody Begay, Diesel Tech. Jerick Billy, Automotive Technology. Farnell Charley, Instrumentation and Control. Michael Diswood, Instrumentation and Control. Cody Paul, instrumentation and controls. and Shareana Wisdom, automotive technology.

Alumni of the NTU PNM Scholarships are: Emmanuel Holiday, Electrical Trade Qualification. Chelsea Whitewater, Bachelor of Science in Biology. Darlene Wilson, Bachelor of Science in Biology, Environmental Science and Natural Resources AAS. Wynona Wilson, her BAS in Information Technology), Benveno Brian Yazzie, her BAS in Information Technology. His BAS on Sky Autumn Yazzie Information Technology. Trudy Yazie has a culinary arts license.

Atcitty estimates that 730 students from both SJC and NTU have benefited from the PNM scholarship program, with a total of 230 graduating. In the 2023-24 academic year, 65 students and 15 graduates are supported by this program.

Ron Darnell, PNM’s senior vice president of public policy, said 10 years ago, PNM worked with Navajo leaders to meet needs and create opportunities for students to enter existing and emerging job markets. He said he was.

“We listened, we learned, and ultimately we also created a scholarship program that helps Navajo students,” Darnell said. PNM offered a $1.5 million scholarship, Darnell said.

Professor Darnell advised students to “stay aligned with the core Indigenous values ​​that guide them in advocating, serving, and building competence in their communities.”

“Always work hard, inspire others as you were inspired, believe in what you can achieve, there is a better life, that rewarding work, fair sweat, perseverance, and Never give up on the idea that your support is the sacrifice of family and our ancestors, it has paid off. ”

President Boo Nigren grew up in Red Mesa, Arizona, received a bachelor’s degree in construction management from Arizona State University, and an MBA and a doctorate in education from the University of Southern California.

Nigren grew up in a rural community in the Navajo Nation, where his family did not have access to electricity or running water, Aticiti said in Niglen’s introduction.

Atticiti said the Nyglen government’s priorities are access to clean water, infrastructure development, allocating resources to kinship movements of missing and killed indigenous peoples, building new roads, rehabilitation centers and nursing homes. is said to be an investment in

Addressing the audience at dinner and in English, Nigren said, “I’m so honored and happy to be here because these are very focused, hands-on, hands-on skills that you guys have acquired.” Stated.

These are “a very important skill set that we will continue to use in trading to really move things forward,” he said.

Nigren said energy has been a top priority for him since taking office in January. “The Navajo have always been an energy nation,” he said.

He thanked SJC officers and staff, Allison and PNM, and called on PNM to contribute “another $500,000 to the scholarship program.”

“Keep working hard, keep being ambitious, keep dreaming…Keep knowing that you are more than capable,” he told his students.

Nygren says that whether a person is in kindergarten or about to complete a master’s or doctoral degree, the Navajo word “biláhó bínshghah,” which means “I am more than capable,” will always be heard by him. said it was an inspirational phrase for

Jerrick Billy, an SJC graduate with an AAS in Automotive Technology, told the audience that the PNM scholarship helped him buy tools and books. He said their donations enabled him to work harder and pushed him to do well because he didn’t want to disappoint anyone.

Billy said his goal is to work at a Ford dealership.

“Becoming an automotive engineer has been a dream of mine for many years,” he said. “I cannot thank you enough for helping me achieve my biggest goal in life, graduating from college. It will all pay off at some point.”

Darlene Wilson, a double major in biology, environmental science and resources at NTU, was the closing speaker. She said she is working on a water purification research project called. N4WPP.

“I want to thank Dr. Guy for really helping me bring this project to life. … It will happen. It’s a miracle!”

Wilson, who completed internships at NASA and the Pentagon, said her daughter also attended NTU at the same time. Her daughter has a bachelor’s degree in biology and she is currently doing an internship at Harvard University.