Investing in Talent, Strengthening Communities: WMED Supports Northland Pioneer College Students

WMED and Northland Pioneer College have partnered to support students gain the right skills and knowledge and ultimately build successful careers. Image source: Northland Pioneer College, npc.edu

White Mountain Economic Development (WMED) has long believed that strong communities are built by investing directly in people. Through its support of students enrolled in Career & Technical Education (CTE) and Industrial Technology Trades (ITT) programs at Northland Pioneer College (NPC), WMED is helping Northern Arizona residents gain the skills, credentials, and confidence needed to build lasting careers—and brighter futures for their families and communities.

NPC’s mission to provide accessible, high-quality education that responds to regional workforce needs aligns closely with WMED’s focus on economic growth, workforce readiness, and opportunity creation across the White Mountains and surrounding areas. By supporting students in hands-on, in-demand trades such as welding, HVAC, and electrical instrumentation, this partnership addresses immediate workforce needs while empowering students to envision long-term career paths.

Two recent scholarship recipients, Isiah Spencer and Jeffery Baloo, exemplify the impact of this collaboration.

Isiah Spencer is currently pursuing welding and general education coursework at NPC and has already completed 10 credits in Welding and English 101. He has finished his Welding Level 1 certification and will continue into Level 2 welding courses, with plans to earn his associate degree by 2027. From there, Isiah hopes to pursue a Bachelor’s of Applied Management to support his long-term goal of owning a home repair business that serves communities on the Navajo Nation.

In a letter to WMED, Isiah shared how meaningful this support has been.

“I’ve never been awarded a scholarship before, and I have to say, I feel very privileged and grateful,” he wrote. “This will help me to continue to pursue my goals and education for a better life for myself and for my wife and my sons.” 

Jeffery Baloo’s journey is equally compelling. Returning to school to pursue certification in Heating, Ventilation, and Cooling, Jeff is enrolled in NPC’s Industrial Technology Trades program and plans to continue his education through the spring 2026 semester. His coursework includes Electrical Instrumentation Fundamentals and HVAC II, preparing him for skilled, high-demand work in the region.

Jeff describes his motivation as both practical and personal.

"I am returning to school for my Heating, Ventilation, and Cooling certification because I have a passion for fixing things and want to incorporate that into my work, and I would also like to be a better role model for my kids,” he wrote. 

With WMED’s support helping offset financial barriers, Jeff is able to stay focused on building skills that will open new doors for his family.

According to Russ Yelton, Executive Director of White Mountain Economic Development, these individual stories illustrate the broader purpose behind WMED’s education investments. 

“When we support students in these career development programs, we’re not just helping them get through a semester,” Yelton said. “We’re strengthening our regional workforce, supporting families, and creating pathways for people to build meaningful careers right here in Northern Arizona.”

By partnering with Northland Pioneer College and directly supporting students like Isiah and Jeffery, WMED continues to advance its mission of fostering sustainable economic development—one student, one credential, and one community at a time.

To further expand WMED’s actions and activities, Donald Laughlin, WMED’s President & CEO, recently accepted a Local Workforce Development Board appointment with Navaho, Apache and Gila Counties.  This role and these activities are specifically scoped to advancing the WMED involvement and support within this region.

Learn more about WMED at https://www.wmedev.org.