Diné College Convenes Second High School Counselor Conference to Bolster College Readiness
TSAILE, Ariz., Feb. 25, 2026. Diné College launched its second High School Counselor Conference, an initiative designed to enhance college readiness by equipping high school counselors with critical resources and information. The event brought together educators and state officials to strengthen the support system for students transitioning to higher education.
The conference featured presentations from Diné College departments, the Arizona Department of Education, the New Mexico Higher Education Department, and the Office of the Navajo Nation Scholarship & Financial Assistance (ONNFSA). Sessions highlighted academic opportunities, student services, and degree pathways at Diné College, equipping counselors to guide their students better.
Presenters shared information on state-funded programs aimed at making college more accessible. Chandler Farnsworth, Financial Aid Outreach Coordinator for the New Mexico Higher Education Department, discussed tuition-free opportunities. “By removing those tuition costs, we’re helping students and parents avoid taking out hefty loans that sometimes can take decades to pay off,” Farnsworth said. “It also means opening the door to different opportunities, higher wages, healthier and more stable lives.”
Brandon Clark, Tribal Grants Specialist for the Office of Indian Education at the Arizona Department of Education, explained the funding structure for Arizona’s dual enrollment program. He noted that funds from the Arizona Lottery support the Tribal College Dual Enrollment Program Fund. Clark emphasized that the program’s goal is “to ensure that students pay nothing out of pocket for taking these dual enrollment courses.”
Francetta Begaye, Dual Credit Program Director at Diné College, highlighted the program’s significant growth and impact. She explained how reestablishing partnerships has expanded the program’s reach from 34 students to a much larger cohort across numerous high schools in Arizona and New Mexico. “It’s really good to go out there and be known and to put Diné College on the map,” Begaye stated. “These students’ success stories are what’s making it happen.”
