Clem Nason Memorial Scholarship

The Carpentry Program was started some years ago as a two year diploma program, the college found that year after year many students could not afford to finish their second year due to time constraints, cost to attend, child care, and transportation. In those days classes took place in the old Teals grocery store, with a leaking roof and sparse tools. The program was guided by the wisdom of Clem Nason and his breadth of knowledge as a seasoned local Ojibwe contractor, gradually the variety of carpentry opportunities grew, the tool arsenal expanded when the college made the move to the newly built LLTC Campus. As we fast forward to today, the program is hosted in a bulding that bears Nason's name and speaks to the legacy he left behind at LLTC. The Clem Nason Building boasts two staging areas with piers and beams to serve as platforms to construct fully finished custom homes, which has served as curriculum over the years. Students and instructors have gained access to technology via smart classrooms, a woodworking studio, and demonstration areas for solar and electrical. When a student enrolls in the newly created Integrated Residential Builder (IRB) program at Leech Lake Tribal College, they can expect to receive both. Starting Fall Semester of 2015, Leech Lake Tribal College will offer an Associate of Applied Sciences (A.A.S) degree in Integrated Residential Building (IRB). The IRB Program integrates building science applications for energy performance (Passivhaus, zero energy ready home-DOE, Energy Star Rated) and multidisciplinary approaches from ecology, agriculture, architecture and construction in to a two year program. The carpentry program will offer a one year diploma in residential construction and a two year, Integrated Builder AAS degree track.

As the program has grown so to have the needs of the students. As LLTC embarks on this new degree program, it was natural to name the scholarship in honor of the leadership and work that Clem Nason provided to the college for many years. Please help support this fund, and help us pass on Clem's leadership and love for Carpentry. If you would like more information, please contact the LLTC Advancement Office at 218-335-4229 or ryan.white@lltc.edu Miigwech.