ALBUQUERQUE, NM – This week, three members of area tribal communities personally met with Pat Vincent-Collawn, PNM Resources Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, as they completed assignments in the PNM American Indian College Engineering Internship Program.

"Internships have become key in today's economy," said Vincent-Collawn. "Through our tribal program, we are happy to provide valuable work experience to college engineering students with specific project-based work that will not only help jumpstart their resume, but also gain them invaluable hands-on experience."

Vincent-Collawn dedicates time to meet with the interns each summer. She offers the interns insight about leading an energy company, key leadership experiences and day-to-day challenges. Vincent-Collawn also gives them opportunities to ask questions related to current industry issues including improvements in solar technology, the PNM integrated resources plan, the company's plan to transition away from coal, and how PNM works to contribute to the local economy.

The 2019 PNM American Indian summer interns are:

Marchez Coriz, Santo Domingo Pueblo, candidate for Bachelor of Science, Major: Civil Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, with an expected graduation date of May 2019. Graduate of New Mexico Military Institute, Roswell, completed four years of US Army JROTC at New Mexico Military Institute. His engineering assignment is with Transmission & Distribution at PNM.

Callie Singer, Navajo, Albuquerque, completed freshman year at Columbia University: Foundation School of Engineering, candidate for Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering, graduate of La Cueva High School with a 4.0 GPA. She works in Management, Distribution Standards and Joint Use at PNM.

Demetrius Johnson, Navajo, Ganado, AZ, candidate for Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, The University of New Mexico, Navajo Nation Chief Manuelito Scholarship Recipient. He has returned for a second summer as a PNM engineering intern. Last summer his responsibilities included surveying of utility lines and customer service projects to the surrounding Pueblos and greater Santa Fe area. Demetrius's engineering assignment this year is with Distribution Engineering.

For each of the incoming 2019 summer interns, PNM has set aside funding from the PNM and Navajo Nation Workforce Training Program to provide up to $1,000 towards their studies at their respective schools as part of the American Indian Summer Internship Program.

In cooperation with the Navajo Nation and partner schools San Juan College and Navajo Technical University, PNM has committed to $1 million over five years. This program allows Navajo students to study new careers to create a stronger economy in New Mexico and the Four Corners area.

Since 2009, twenty-eight students have completed a summer engineering internship with PNM. The program has also resulted in the hiring of four interns into full-time positions in the company. The first is a member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, a graduate of New Mexico State University, and has been employed with PNM for eight years. The second is a member of the Navajo Nation, a graduate of the University of New Mexico, and has been employed with PNM for 3 years. The third is also a member of the Navajo Nation, a graduate from New Mexico State University, and has been employed with PNM for 3 years. Lastly, the fourth is a member of the Navajo Nation, a graduate of New Mexico Tech, and was just hired full-time at PNM this year.