Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren congratulates Navajo Workforce training scholarship recipients

FARMINGTON, N.M. — Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and officials with PNM, San Juan College and Navajo Technical University honored 16 PNM-Navajo Nation Workforce Training scholarship recipients.

Through a $1.5 million PNM contribution spread out through 2024, a special joint ceremony was held to recognize scholarship recipients from NTU and San Juan College here. The ceremony was held at San Juan College School of Energy, Merrion Rooms.

“We share the opportunity and responsibility to our Navajo communities by joining forces with PNM, making it easier to pursue education and training for future job opportunities, fostering economic success through local programs such as this,” President Nygren said.

The program is designed to ensure that New Mexico and the Four Corners area have a well-trained workforce needed for existing and emerging jobs.

It is important that Navajos are well-positioned to meet that need, he said.

“Through our continued partnership with the leaders at San Juan College and Navajo Technical University, as well as strong guidance from local Navajo Chapter leadership,” he said, “the Navajo Nation and long-standing programs like our Workforce Training Initiative fill an unmet need in our local communities.”

The PNM-Navajo Nation Workforce Training Initiative was established in 2013. It grew from a partnership among PNM, the Navajo Nation, NTU and San Juan College.

“And for this collaboration, we are profoundly grateful,” the President said.

PNM fulfilled a $1 million scholarship commitment during a five-year period.

A second MOU was signed in 2019. PNM invested another $500,000 into the program. Through 2025, the funding is paid equally and directly to each school.

More than 700 scholarships were awarded with more than 200 successfully-graduating from the training, earning their trade certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees.

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