I had people I could lean on. We studied together. It surprised me how much easier it was to learn when we helped each other.
Dylan Boston, a CIRI descendant, is building his career from the ground up, literally. With encouragement from his family and a Career Technical Education scholarship from The CIRI Foundation, he enrolled in AVTEC’s Plumbing & Heating program, gaining hands-on experience and job-ready skills.
His path didn’t begin with plumbing. While working as a drainage technician, he discovered a knack for solving problems in the field. Backed by TCF’s support, he joined the job-focused AVTEC program in Seward, where real-world tools, teamwork, and persistence helped him take the next step in building his future.
"Plumbing and heating was a really fun program," Dylan shares. "My instructor knew so much and helped us really understand the work. We had to figure it out as a team. That was my favorite part."
When Dylan decided to pursue trade training, he applied for a Career Technical Education scholarship from TCF. "TCF covered all of it. And then some," Dylan says. "Without that help, I don’t think I could’ve gotten into the program."
Now working in the plumbing field, Dylan has joined Woods Plumbing as an apprentice plumber, while also considering online courses in coding to keep learning.
"Even if a trade school or program doesn’t guarantee a job right away, it’s worth doing. Learn the skills, you never know when they’ll be useful. Whether it’s plumbing or coding, try to build skills that support you long-term."
Dylan Boston at Alaska Native Medical Center, Anchorage. Photo courtesy of TCF.
"I see patients who look like my family. They trust me because I understand where they come from."
Dylan Boston's story is one of thousands. Every semester, TCF scholarship recipients across Alaska and the Lower 48 are building careers, strengthening communities, and investing in the next generation. The cycle of support continues.
