Five Ute adult learners were honored at a celebration of completion in Towaoc on Aug. 2. These students have achieved recognized completion of NCCER core credits in a new Pueblo Community College program developed with Lumina grant funds.

According to their website, the Lumina Foundation, which is a private foundation in Indianapolis, “aims to increase the number of Americans who achieve professional credentials, associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees.”

PCC received two grants, each totaling $40,000, to create the program.

The goal of the program created by PCC, according to Director of Academic Services Perry Pepper, was to increase the number of Native American students studying to earn various industry credentials by 2%. The age range for adult learners is 24 and up.

“This endeavor focuses on providing noncredit courses that lead to industry-recognized credentials in mid- to high-wage fields,” Pepper said.

Trainees in the National Center for Construction Education and Research core curriculum learn skills needed to continue education in any craft area.

If the student chooses, however, these noncredit courses can be converted to college credits and to college certification programs.

The current pathways provide students with knowledge and skills in construction, information technology and drone aviation.

These in-demand skills are taught to students through qualified instructors on tribal land, to help bring access to students who may be unable to travel to a college campus.

Quinton Jacket of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe helped teach the courses provided in the program, and La Titia Taylor of the Southern Ute tribe co-presented with Quinton and Perry at the Chancellor’s Summit on Adult Education June 1 in Denver.

Jacket teaches construction trades for PCC and has “years of work-related skills, knowledge, industry credentials, college certificates and certified training credentials in commercial airline service, construction, agriculture, mining, industrial, commercial and residential trades,” according to information acquired from Pepper.

Jacket has also taught and led training for hazardous materials identification and mitigation as well as heavy equipment operation and service.

He said being a member of the community where he is teaching allows him to provide hands-on help and be more present with students.

“I can come out and go to the classroom or do hands-on in the community, which has made it that much better,” Jacket said.

He added that having the education program right in the community has been invaluable for giving interested students a chance to enroll and be part of the program.

The other instructor, Taylor, received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma and her master’s in biology from Southwest Texas State University.

She taught botany for a few years at Southwest Texas State University before being hired by the Southern Ute Natural Resource Department.

Later on, she became the Southern Ute Higher Education Director before her current job as education director.

She is also a guest lecturer for colleges and universities such as Fort Lewis College, Western State University, Prescott College, Pueblo Community College and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute.

Pepper noted that the program can help enrolled individuals learn the skills to find a job in an area that doesn’t have many high-wage opportunities.

High-wage jobs in the area include government, professional and business services, finance, mining, information and utilities, while most mid-wage jobs are in the health care and construction fields.

According to research provided by PCC, adult Native learners enroll in education programs at a 50% lower rate than the general population.

PCC’s research said it’s crucial to create local academic programs that provide face-to-face instruction and peer-to-peer learning to promote an increase in Native adult learning.

Right now, the program is located in Ignacio and Towaoc. In Ignacio, there was such a high number of interested individuals in the drone program that they are increasing their drone course capacity to accommodate. The drone course filled up in two hours, which led to three full classes.

Pepper noted that drone licensure is a career that is an “up and coming” mid- to high-wage job in today’s job market.

“There’s a lot of interest in drones because that’s something innovative,” Pepper said.

There was also a lot of interest in the IT course, and Pepper said eight students completed the course, with seven of those students being women.

Having local courses has created a sense of community and belonging that can be hard to find.

“It created a really fun environment for the students,” Pepper said. “They’d come and everyone knew everybody, and they’d have dinner and they’d go learn these skills.”

Both Pepper and Jacket shared that the impact on the communities involved in the program has been a positive one so far.

“It increases the representation as it provides Ute Mountain members and Native American members of these communities to be the ones leading their education,” Perry said.

Jacket added that adult learners being committed to learning a new skill and to their education is inspiring to young students.

“It’s a good example to some of the young students,” Jacket said. “I think it helps encourage younger students from the community, a community that is in a rural area.”

Jacket added that it was important that any student who wanted to learn would be welcome in the program.

“We wanted it to be available to any student that wanted to learn. They are all welcome in these classes,” he said. “We have some students in Cortez that have the same issues. We know that it helps to be able to cater our programs so that we can provide more assistance.”

They plan to collaborate with members of the Tribal Council to offer carpentry training as a way to provide skilled carpenters to build “small starter homes in the community.”

“Celebrating the achievements of our learners is another essential aspect of our ongoing efforts. We eagerly look forward to hosting several celebrations, including proper award ceremonies, to acknowledge and honor the accomplishments of our Ute learners. Together, we have much to celebrate and be proud of. By building on our successes, addressing areas for improvement, and continuing to listen to the needs of the communities, we will further enhance the impact of this project and empower Native American students to thrive in higher education and beyond,” PCC said.