From classroom to career: ConocoPhillips helps Alaska students discover process technology

For a high school student considering what comes after graduation, knowing that a career exists can be the first step toward pursuing it. Through its support of Kenai Peninsula College (KPC), ConocoPhillips Alaska is helping more Alaska students discover careers in process technology - and understand how a UAA education can prepare them to enter one of the state's most important industries.

The partnership between ConocoPhillips and UAA is reaching far beyond students already enrolled at KPC. ConocoPhillips' investment has allowed the college to expand outreach across Alaska, strengthen connections between education and industry, and create hands-on experiences for students and educators who may have had little previous exposure to process technology careers.

One of the most innovative examples is KPC's new Process Technology Train the Trainer program. Rather than trying to reach students one at a time, KPC is equipping the people who talk with young Alaskans about their futures every day.

The inaugural program brought six educators from communities stretching from Houston to Juneau to KPC for an intensive introduction to process technology. Before arriving, participants completed online foundational instruction. At KPC, they learned how to introduce process technology concepts in their own classrooms, toured local industry facilities and then traveled to Kuparuk on the North Slope to personally experience the industry environment.

Those educators returned to their communities with more than information. They had seen the work themselves and could talk with students about the education, careers and opportunities available in Alaska with firsthand knowledge.

The response was so positive that KPC is already planning another educator externship for summer 2027 and is exploring ways to reach more teachers, counselors and other adults who influence students' educational and career decisions.

ConocoPhillips' support is also helping KPC bring the college experience directly to students from rural Alaska.

In partnership with the Calista Culture and Education Foundation, KPC is preparing to welcome 25 high school seniors from Western Alaska for a multi-day Taste of College experience. Students will experience college life, explore process technology education and careers, participate in hands-on activities and connect with industry and workforce partners. The experience is designed to help students not simply learn about college, but begin to picture themselves there.

That hands-on approach is becoming an increasingly important part of KPC's outreach. ConocoPhillips' funding also helped purchase a custom mobile simulator that can be taken to outreach events and high schools, giving students an opportunity to experience elements of process technology rather than simply reading about the field. KPC has also developed new informational materials and expanded outreach to schools, educators and community partners throughout Anchorage, the Mat-Su Valley and other areas of Alaska.

Interest is growing. Alaska Resource Education, Kusilvak Career Academy, regional career and technical education consortiums, rural school district Career Guides and other educational organizations have expressed interest in connecting students and educators with KPC's process technology opportunities.

And there is an encouraging early indicator that these efforts are gaining traction. While KPC cannot directly attribute enrollment changes to any single outreach initiative, enrollment in its process technology and instrumentation program increased 12.5% during the last academic year.

The larger impact of ConocoPhillips' investment, however, may take years to fully measure. Each experience creates another potential connection between an Alaska student, a UAA education and an Alaska career. Through its partnership with KPC, ConocoPhillips is helping build those connections - and a stronger pipeline of Alaskans prepared to become part of the workforce that will shape the state's future.