New NAU Yuma program prepares high schoolers for career paths

YUMA, AZ (AZFamily)—Northern Arizona University in Yuma is helping students get their bachelor’s degrees faster so they can enter the workforce.

Some of that preparation is starting in high school.

One of their newest programs is Yuma YES, which is short for Yuma Educational Success.

The program paves a pathway for high school graduates to transfer to NAU Yuma or the Flagstaff campus seamlessly.

Students can do this by starting classes at Arizona Western College while in high school.

It requires a lot of work and determination, but NAU Yuma’s career coordinator, Patrick Cunningham, said it can be done.

Cunningham is in charge of ensuring these students have all the tools needed to succeed.

They offer mentoring, academic help, resume and mock interview workshops.

Cunningham said a big part of the college’s success is ensuring its programs fit the students and the community’s needs.

“That’s one thing Arizona Western and the partnership between the two institutions. They’ve done a great job of getting out in the community and finding out what’s needed here, and establishing programs that can match those. Making assessments and saying, ‘hey, what do we need to do, we need to produce teachers, healthcare.’ That has been very successful,” he said.

Internships are also a big part of Yuma YES, which helps students get internships that can lead to future job opportunities once they graduate with their bachelor’s degree.

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