Set to the melodies of well-known local musician and Northland Pioneer College (NPC) Faculty in English, Ryan David Orr, The House Restaurant, KGJ Roofing, The White Mountain Autism and the Darrin Reed Foundation recently awarded over $20,000 in scholarships to NPC students for the upcoming 26-27 school year.
The students gathered with their friends and families for a meal “on the house” courtesy of The House restaurant and owners Chris and Michelle Corbin. A native of the White Mountains, Corbin is passionate about giving back to the community. He is particularly interested in investing in and supporting local students in their pursuit of a college education. This is the sixth consecutive year he and his wife, Michelle, have awarded NPC On The House scholarships to graduating seniors from Blue Ridge, Show Low, and Snowflake high schools to continue their studies at NPC.
Blue Ridge High School senior Brooklynn Fowler-Pacheco, Show Low senior Mareli Sandoval, and Snowflake senior Shaylee Troutman each took home NPC On The House scholarships worth a generous $2,200 apiece. The scholarships will cover the cost of tuition for their first year at NPC.
Once again, Kenny Garvin, owner of KGJ Roofing, joined in giving. Garvin is genuinely interested in seeing local students succeed by learning a trade or a skill. “I am all about growing our own,” he said. For him, success is when a student can learn something, do it well, love it, and build a successful career working in the community. The KGJ Roofing scholarship covers the cost for a student to attend NPC in a career or technical education field. The scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior from any of the following area high schools: Alchesay, Blue Ridge, Holbrook, Mogollon, Round Valley, Saint Johns, Show Low, Snowflake, or Winslow. It covers tuition, books, and fees for students interested in pursuing careers in fields like automotive technology, welding, behavioral health, law enforcement, industrial technology, nursing, paramedicine, business, and more.
This year’s awardee of the KGJ Roofing-Building Futures One Roof at a Time scholarship in the amount of $3,000 went to Dylan Palensar of Blue Ridge High School. Last year’s KGJ scholarship recipient, Jack Harris of Holbrook, also joined the scholarship night’s festivities. He will continue to be supported by KGJ Roofing throughout his journey and has a bright future ahead of him, having earned his welding and OSHA certifications and top accolades at NPC.
The Darrin Reed Foundation also awarded scholarships. Each year, the foundation assists local students with tens of thousands of dollars in financial support. The foundation also supports local first responders with funding they can access in critical instances to assist people in times of need and ensure that local agencies have the tools and knowledge required to protect our communities. This year, the foundation generously awarded scholarships worth $1,500 each to six NPC students who are studying in EMT, paramedic, fire science, and justice studies. The recipients of the Darrin Reed NPC scholarships were Lance Charleston, Colby Garvin, Susan Kimsey, Malachi Kessay, Serenity Smith, and Jared Stone.
In partnership with The Darrin Reed Foundation, The White Mountain Autism Foundation added to the pool of awards with a $1,000 scholarship to NPC student Caleb Pike. The foundation supports the lives of local special needs individuals, their families, and the community.
These scholarships are facilitated by NPC Friends and Family, the non-profit foundation that supports students at NPC. Jesse Reeck, Executive Director of NPC Friends and Family, applauded the group’s effort to impact students’ lives through scholarships. “The need is real in our community,” she said. “Hundreds of students apply for scholarships each semester. We are very grateful for businesses and organizations like these that work to provide for our students and their families. They are true community partners who are passionate about giving back and uplifting students with a shared belief that education truly changes lives. This is what community looks like,” she said. “Neighbors uplifting students, businesses investing in dreams, and students finding a path to a brighter future.”
NPC Friends and Family has over 40 scholarship opportunities for those interested in or who are currently attending NPC. The organization supports the mission and goals of NPC through the advancement of programs and services and the establishment and growth of scholarships like these. For more information about NPC Friends and Family and how you can get involved in expanding opportunities for local students, contact Jesse Reeck at jesse.reeck@npc.edu or 928-532-6145.
