Due to anticipated inclement weather and to prioritize the safety of our campus community, National Park College will transition to remote operations Thursday, January 9 and Friday, January 10.
For more information see the Campus Alerts page.
National Park College (NPC) student Alesha Harrison, was recently named student of
the year for the Career Pathways Initiative (CPI) at NPC. Harrison was recognized
at the annual CPI graduate recognition ceremony, which was held May 14.
In hopes to become the first person in her family to graduate college, Harrison enrolled
at NPC to pursue her education. As a single mother with three children at home, she
realized the pressure of balancing family and schoolwork. Her mentor introduced her
to the CPI program and she decided to contact them.
CPI intake coordinator Laurie Everton said, “CPI’s goal is to assist low-income parents
in becoming self-sufficient. We try to eliminate financial burdens by partnering with
our students on their educational journey. CPI can step in to offer childcare, transportation
assistance, books, tuition, and fees and course related supplies.”
In July of 2020, with just a few months until graduation, tragedy struck when Harrison
received news that her daughter had been killed. Harrison took on the responsibility
of raising her grandson while finishing her final semester. She said the support she
received from CPI was invaluable.
“Career Pathways was one of the main reasons for my success story. They provided me
with everything I needed from school supplies to moral support, especially on the
days when things got rough. They kept me encouraged so I could finish strong,” said
Harrison.
“NPC is more than just a college, it was more like a family-oriented environment filled
with amazing instructors and staff,” said Harrison.
“It was an absolute pleasure to work with Alesha and watch her achieve her goals.
There is no greater joy than to see someone who has walked through a storm and come
out stronger on the other side. Director Harris and I could not be prouder of Alesha.
She will always be a part of our CPI family,” said Everton.
Harrison added, “Being named Career Pathways Student of the Year inspired me by assuring
me that throughout all of the struggles I encountered, my labor and perseverance was
not in vain and in the end, all of my hard work did not go unnoticed.”
