DEMING – A Deming High School student is getting an early start on a skilled-trade career through Western New Mexico University’s dual enrollment program, putting him on track to graduate from high school with two college vocational certificates already completed.
Urijah Nordorf, 16, has completed WNMU’s sequence of collegiate welding courses and has now moved into advanced electrical coursework. If he remains on track, Nordorf will earn accredited WNMU certificates in both welding and electrical studies by the time he graduates from Deming High School.
Nordorf’s interest in the trades began when he was 14 and spent a summer working with his uncle, a general contractor specializing in steel buildings, carports and sheet metal. While working as a laborer, he saw firsthand the opportunities available to trained and certified welders.
He later learned more about WNMU’s vocational program while participating in varsity wrestling and decided to pursue the opportunity.
Doing college-level technical training while completing high school has required some sacrifices. Nordorf maintains a 3.0 GPA while taking honors courses that include advanced math, English, biology and history. To make room for the additional workload, he stepped away from competitive baseball and wrestling tournaments.
“It takes some sacrifice, like giving up sports and working through high school breaks but being able to graduate with two college certificates is entirely worth it,” Nordorf said. “I’d tell any high schooler to jump on this opportunity—it completely changes what your future can look like.”
The schedules can also present an unusual challenge. WNMU and Deming Public Schools do not always observe the same holidays and breaks, meaning Nordorf sometimes attends college lectures and laboratory sessions while his high school classmates are on vacation.
His training has already moved beyond the classroom.
According to WNMU, the university’s shop courses are designed to resemble working industrial environments. Nordorf has used what he has learned to take on part-time contract work for local developers and work alongside construction crews on job sites.
His parents and other family members have helped him reinvest some of those earnings in industrial-grade tools and equipment as he continues developing his skills.
Nordorf’s mother, Brigette Vega, who is a Luna County employee, said programs like WNMU’s dual enrollment offerings can be especially important for young people in rural communities who want to pursue skilled trades.
“This program gives our youth a direct headstart into high-demand careers without having to leave home to find top-tier training,” Vega said.
His father, Robert Nordorf, also has a connection to WNMU. He previously attended university classes when WNMU courses in Deming were conducted in high school classrooms.
He said seeing the facilities and opportunities now available to his son demonstrates how much the program has developed.
“To see my son operating at this level of sophistication at just sixteen is remarkable,” Robert Nordorf said. “WNMU has created an environment where local youth can get serious, hands-on experience, and I’m proud to see Urijah taking full advantage of how far this institution has come.”
WNMU says Nordorf is the first Deming High School student on track to complete both its welding and electrical tracks before graduating from high school.
Nordorf credits his instructors and the hands-on nature of the courses for helping him succeed and encourages other high school students interested in vocational careers to consider dual enrollment.
The university offers vocational certificate programs along with its traditional academic and degree programs, providing another route into the workforce for students who want to begin developing job-ready skills while still attending high school.
For Nordorf, that means when he receives his Deming High School diploma, he could already have two college credentials and practical work experience to go along with it.
John Krehbiel – Bravo Mic Communications News – John@bravomic.com
