Tribal College Apprenticeship Program
December 4, 2023 2025-01-25 20:13Tribal College Apprenticeship Program
About TCAP
TCAP is a 4-year, $14 million dollar initiative supported by the Hess Corporation, Nabors Inc, and Halliburton aimed at improving workforce training and education opportunities for Native people through apprenticeships.
Officially launched in Spring 2023, the North Dakota Tribal College System has partnered with Lake Region State College and adopted their “Earn and Learn” apprenticeship model which offers participants the opportunity to enter into apprenticeships and build long-term career paths. To that end, each of the five North Dakota tribal colleges has tailored their apprenticeship program to address the labor needs within their respective community.
The initiative provides guided education, tuition assistance, stipends, and life-skills development. Apprentices gain hands-on experience while working toward a two-year degree or technical certification, with opportunities for higher degrees. The program also strengthens family and community ties by focusing on local employment and skill- building.
TCAP Advisory Board Members
Kirsten Baesler
State Superintendent - ND Department of Public Instruction
Tracey Bauer
Executive Director - ND Tribal College System
Dr. Doug Darling
President - Lake Region State College
Kevin Dvorak
President & CEO - North Dakota Community Foundation
Melana Howe
Resource Development/Apprenticeships - LRSC & NDCTE Grant Project Manager
Dudley Light
Regional Representative - US Department of Labor
Leander McDonald
President - United Tribes Technical College
AnnMarie Murtaugh
Recruiting Supervisor - Halliburton
Katie Ralston
Director - ND Workforce Development Council
Wayde Sick
Director - ND Department of Career and Technical Education
Brad Hawk
Executive Director - ND Indian Affairs Commission
Brent Lohnes
ND Manager - Hess Corporation
Program Objectives
At the end of year 4, this program will:
- Generate a minimum of 40 and a maximum of 80 trained apprentices.
- Establish at least 20 apprenticeships at and via North Dakota’s five tribal colleges.
Additionally, an advisory council comprised of state and national partners has been established and meets quarterly to provide oversight for the program.
Additional Apprenticeship Programs
Explore apprenticeship programs featured on tribal college websites.
For More Information
Susan McNeil-Conley
Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College
Melana Howe
TCAP Consultant - Lake Region State College
Clayton Peltier
Cankdeska Cikana Community College
Journey Azure
United Tribes Technical College
Katrina Delorme
Turtle Mountain College
Dr. Koreen Ressler
Sitting Bull College
