President’s Message
Welcome to the latest issue of NPC’s CareerFocus magazine, a semiannual opportunity for us to share how the college and its community partners play a vital role in providing affordable educational opportunities to all residents of Navajo and Apache Counties.
On these pages you will find students’ success stories, an overview of our Early Childhood and Construction programs, the importance of...
An Early Connection
Love working with small children? Few educational fields are more important than those centered on the development and care of infants and young children.
Visible and invisible energy flows through the children in the White Mountain Apache Head Start in Whiteriver as their young minds form nearly 700 new neural connections every second! It’s happening as they build towers with blocks, create a...
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Leaving a Legacy
Northland’s ECD program traces its roots back to the college’s founding in 1974, when Claude Endfield was one of the college’s first 10 graduates. She has helped guide the ECD program since 1988, adding age-specific specializations and adjusting curricula to meet our communities’ changing needs.
Retiring in June 2016, Endfield has easily traveled over a million miles, on paved roads and...
posted in: News & Notes
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Construction Technology: Real world experience
Many recall the housing market crash of 2008 and how the construction industry suffered as a result. But eight years later, analysts are predicting a growth of 6 percent in 2016 (Dodge Data & Analytics). And the top problem facing the industry is the shortage of skilled workers. Many employees who left the industry never returned, and as a result companies throughout the United States are...
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Building Hope, Building A Future
Fifteen NPC students will soon earn their GED®. However, these 15 are unique because they won’t just have a diploma to show for it, but will also have real, marketable job skills, knowing how to build a house — even having built one with their own hands.
These students have enrolled in what’s being called the “IBEST Program.” A collaboration between Northland Pioneer College and...
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Small Business Development Center
Are you determined to start a new business, or grow an existing one but don’t know where to start? Did you know 95 percent of the people in rural America find owning their own business to be one of the best ways to enjoy the quality of life and make a good income?
Small business owners earn between $25,000 to $300,000 a year! But they also lose between $5,000 to $150,000 on average when they...
posted in: News & Notes
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NPC Ranks Number 1 in Nation in certificates to Native students!
Northland Pioneer College is the nation’s top producer of Certificates of Proficiency awarded to Native American students, nearly doubling the number of awardees from the 2012–13 to 2013–14 academic years.
A recent analysis of 2013–14 academic year data from more than 1,600 community colleges by the national publication Community College Weekly showed that NPC issued 108 certificates to...
posted in: News & Notes, Student Life
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Going to the Dogs: Applying skills for the good of others
[caption id="attachment_1328" align="alignright" width="240"] (Kneeling, l to r) Jacob Bolding, NPC students Joey Cundiff, Dustin Yazzie and Marcus Elliston. (Standing, l to r) NPC student Gabrielle Nez, Winslow Mayor Robin Boyd, NPC Instructor Charlie Perkins, Winslow Animal Control Officer Stratton Sayler, and NPC Instructor Jorge Meza.[/caption]
Building a sturdy doghouse requires the use of...
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Doors of Opportunity
“Something I always seem to be telling my students, is that in life, and especially art, when you’re creating something great, doors of opportunity open to you. My life is no exception,” says Peterson Yazzie, Instructor at NPC.
When Yazzie describes how he became an NPC art instructor and published illustrator, he affirms again that it was doors of opportunity that led him from high school...
posted in: Education, Success Stories
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Wanted by the FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Recruiter Kevin Zwick, with the Phoenix Office, explained career opportunities and the Bureau’s hiring procedure to students in Northland Pioneer College’s computer networking and maintenance class during an NPC Career Services presentation earlier this spring. Only 1,300 of the Bureau’s 36,000 employees are classified as “special agents.” The rest...
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Cheering For Her Own Goals
Earning college credit in high school
You’ll rarely find senior Trista Ison in the stands cheering for her Show Low High School Cougars, a complete reversal from her sophomore-year cheerleading days. She’s more likely doing homework for her Northland Pioneer College Medical Assistant degree and high school classes, or completing online high school history or college biology courses.
It was...
posted in: Education, Success Stories
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Free Tuition at an Arizona State University?
Yes, it starts at Northland Pioneer College.
Every year, for the past 20 years, the Arizona Board of Regents awards a little-known scholarship only to community college students selected as members of the All-Arizona Academic Team. Each Arizona community college is allowed to select two students from each campus/center location, which means up to 18 Northland Pioneer College students can receive...
posted in: Financial Aid, Success Stories
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It’s OK to be uncertain
NPC academic advisers will help you get – and stay – on track
“Growing up, I wanted to be a teacher, working with kids. But after working in the medical field for six years as a phlebotomist – you know, the person everyone hates – I decided a career in a medical field would be right for me,” said Kayla Downs.
“But there were so many choices! Sitting down with my NPC academic...
posted in: Student Life, Success Stories
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The Apprentice
Jonathan (Charlie) Hall knew that Northland Pioneer College would be there to help him earn his degree, but since he has started his apprenticeship (paid, on-the-job training) with Nestle Purina, Hall has been grateful for NPC’s customized support in this new stage of his career.
[caption id="attachment_1317" align="alignright" width="240"] In NPC’s Mechatronics program, Charlie Hall is...
posted in: Education, Success Stories
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College At Any Age
Northland Pioneer College has served adult learners for decades. We understand the challenges faced by older students who often already have family and job responsibilities.
NPC offers affordable tuition, evening and online courses, and experience serving older students. We are your best choice for gaining the skills and credentials you need to advance your career and enrich you and your...
posted in: Education
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A Résumé That Gets You Noticed
In an economy where job seekers significantly out-number positions, distinguishing your credentials is essential. How can you stand out from the crowd?
According to online résumé service TheLadders.net, job recruiters wade through thousands of profiles and résumés with a ruthless eye for clarity and concrete information.
TheLadders literally tracked the eye movements of 30 professional...
posted in: Careers
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A Path to Engineering at NPC?
YES! NPC offers another option besides heading straight to a university.
Mechatronics! Gain hands-on experience installing, troubleshooting, repairing, upgrading and testing electronic and computer-controlled mechanical systems that often involve robotic assembly machines.
Get Your Bachelor’s Degree Paid For
If you decide that you want to pursue an engineering degree, one option is...
posted in: Education
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NPC Graduate Gets Multiple Offers And One Great Job
“It’s great seeing our students graduate from NPC, because not only are they finding success for themselves, but they’re improving and growing the economy wherever they are. It’s rewarding to see so many students being hired locally and throughout Arizona,” says Frank Pinnell, NPC Welding instructor.
One example of a recent hire is Tyler Flores, a graduate of NPC welding who chose to...
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NPC Has Scholarships Waiting For You
NPC Friends and Family is a non-profit alliance whose primary mission is to raise and disseminate need-based grants and scholarships to NPC students. The alliance was born in July 2014 out of the reorganization of the NPC Foundation.
Executive Director Betsyann Wilson was excited to be in a position to help students surmount the financial barriers they faced in earning a college degree, so...
posted in: Financial Aid
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NPC Career Guide
Northland Pioneer College is ready to help you get started on a path to a new career and new opportunities. With more than 70 associate degrees and certificate programs available, a new career is easy to attain. We’ll help you chart a course that’s right for you. The following list provides a snapshot of the programs NPC offers and national average incomes in the field. For more information,...
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7 Easy Steps to Enroll at NPC
YES, YOU CAN AFFORD COLLEGE!
NPC understands that college can be expensive and that’s why we work so hard to keep costs low. A quality education does NOT have to mean higher cost.
Financial aid and scholarships are available. All students who wish to apply for financial assistance, including scholarships, must start by filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form...
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