EDUCATION

Navajo college graduates celebrated by PNM, Navajo Nation

The Daily Times staff
Byron Tsabetsaye, left, director of the Native American Center at San Juan College, announces the names of the 2018 PNM scholarship graduates Tuesday during a graduation ceremony at the San Juan College School of Energy in Farmington as Michael Benally, second to left, and Myron Charley receive their sash and a certificate.

FARMINGTON — San Juan College students in Public Service Co. of New Mexico’s Navajo Nation Workforce Training Initiative were recognized ahead of graduation on Tuesday at San Juan College.

Scholarship recipient Michael Benally gives his student testimonial speech on Tuesday during a ceremony at the San Juan College School of Energy in Farmington.

Friends and family members of 22 scholarship recipients and 2018 graduates, as well as leaders from the Navajo Nation, PNM and San Juan College, gathered for the annual recognition ceremony.

The Navajo Nation Workforce Training Initiative is partnership between the three entities, as well as Navajo Technical University in Crownpoint, according to a joint press release from the college and PNM.

PNM committed $1 million to the program in 2013, and the money funds $200,000 in annual scholarships for students in PNM’s American Indian Engineering Program and at NTU and San Juan College, according to a press release.

More information is available at pnm.com/navajo.

Ron Darnell, senior vice president for public policy at PNM, speaks to scholarship recipients on Tuesday during a ceremony at the San Juan College School of Energy in Farmington.