Welcome to the inaugural issue of NPC’s CareerFocus magazine, a semiannual opportunity for us to share how the college and its community partners are expanding minds and transforming lives.

We live in a region blessed with incredible natural beauty, yet our area is oppressed by adverse poverty, low levels of education attainment and high unemployment. Those are huge obstacles to overcome – for our communities and our students. NPC plays a vital role in reducing those obstacles and providing affordable educational opportunities to both Navajo and Apache counties.

When a first-generation college student enrolls, and then completes their first class, that is a huge leap forward. As each national job-readiness certification is earned or core course completed, our communities are better prepared to supply the skilled workers needed by industry and other local employers.

CareerFocus will present students’ success stories; provide an overview of our transfer and career degree programs; explain the essentials of applying for admission and financial aid; highlight options available to the diverse communities we serve; and show how your financial support, through property taxes and the nonprofit NPC Friends & Family Alliance, helps us improve lives.

It is my hope that you will find reading stories about local students, programs and community projects of interest. We’ll no longer be mailing printed copies of our class schedules. Instead I encourage you to utilize our online schedule (www.npc.edu/class-schedule), which is constantly updated to reflect available courses. Our website (www.npc.edu) is also filled with additional information about college events, programs and services. You’re always welcome to stop by any of NPC’s nine locations, where our friendly, knowledgeable staff can help you meet your career and educational goals.

— Dr. Jeanne Swarthout, President