NPC students to construct homes, gain job skills tuition-free
Submitted | Northland Pioneer College
Students at Northland Pioneer College’s Whiteriver center put their construction skills to work building tiny homes as part of hands-on training in the classroom.
WINDOW ROCK
This fall, students enrolled in Northland Pioneer College’s construction program will be trading classrooms for job sites as they build homes in Navajo and Apache counties.
Northland Pioneer College is expanding its hands-on construction program to Holbrook, St. Johns, and Whiteriver, where students will build homes – custom site-built homes in Holbrook and St. Johns, and tiny homes in Whiteriver – all while earning industry-recognized credentials and real-world job experience. For students, the opportunity comes at no cost: there are no tuition, media, or course fees through the fall 2025 and spring 2026 semesters.
“This is an opportunity for students to work from start to finish on a home, learn hands-on skills and see their efforts progress into a complete structure,” said Jorge Meza, NPC’s faculty in construction, who will lead the homebuilding effort in Holbrook. “Everything from the foundation to the cabinets and light fixtures will be the handiwork of NPC students.”
All students are welcome to apply, including adult learners. Thanks to grant funding from the Northern Arizona Good Jobs Network and Local First Arizona, each student will be equipped with personal protective gear and essential tools to complete the builds.
On June 17, NPC celebrated the launch of the new Holbrook housing project with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by Navajo County District Governing Board members, city officials, business partners, and college leadership. The student-built home will be located at 154 W. California Street in Holbrook.
The St. Johns build mirrors Holbrook’s initiative and marks the college’s expansion of construction education into Apache County. Students at both sites will engage in every phase of residential construction, including masonry, framing, roofing, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems.
“These skills, along with state-of-the-art hardware and tools, set the bar for construction graduates to be successful on the job following program completion,” Meza said.
Upon completion, students earn OSHA-10 and NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) certifications – credentials that are recognized and valued by employers nationwide. The program also focuses on job readiness, including communication and workplace success strategies.
“This project is a win for everyone involved,” said Meza. “With zero out-of-pocket costs, NPC students obtain real-world experience and credentials that can fast-track them to new and life-long employable careers. What’s more, the city of Holbrook gains tax revenue and another place for a family to live.”
Meanwhile, in Whiteriver, NPC is revitalizing its construction program with a focus on building tiny homes. These small, functional units will eventually be relocated to the Northeast Arizona Training Center in Taylor, where they’ll serve as housing for police academy recruits undergoing the 21-week training program. Fire and police personnel attending certification or recertification courses at NATC will also benefit from the additional housing.
“This is a significant cost savings for agencies from throughout our service area and around the state to send recruits to the academy,” Meza said. “With limited housing and high rental prices in our area, the recruits and their sponsoring agencies can better afford the training.”
Meza added that the impact of NPC’s construction program extends beyond job skills. “We often see disadvantaged students who have had a rough time in their lives and do not have much of a support system. This program has truly turned their lives around. I am genuinely proud of all of my students’ accomplishments and of being able to give them a purpose and a career.”
Fall semester classes begin Aug. 18. Interested students can register by visiting any NPC campus and speaking to an academic advisor.
Information: Holbrook site-build, contact Jorge Meza at (928) 524-7456 or jorge.meza@npc.edu; St. Johns site-build, contact Jeremy Raisor at (928) 536-6231 or jeremy.raisor@npc.edu; Whiteriver tiny homes, contact Aaron Prestwich at (928) 243-4110 or aaron.prestwich@npc.edu.
Get instant access to this story by purchasing one of our many e-edition subscriptions HERE at our Navajo Times Store.
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow