Labor and utility leaders celebrate the 36th UMAP cohort at Kennedy-King College's Dawson Technical Institute

Pictured is President Katonja Webb Walker of Kennedy-King College congratulating a new UMAP class completer along with labor leaders and Peoples Gas officials. 

Nearly 100 attendees, including labor leaders (CFL), UMAP students, their family and friends—gathered at Dawson Technical Institute in late June 2026 to honor the latest class of UMAP graduates.

“The dedication shown by our 36th UMAP cohort exemplifies the intense drive and resilience that veterans bring to our campus,” said Kennedy-King College President Katonja Webb Walker. “By partnering with labor and industry leaders like the CFL and Peoples Gas, Dawson Tech delivers the technical education these men and women need and deserve. With the support of all our partners, we are proud to provide an academic pathway that equips veterans with critical skills and 52 college credits, ensuring they transition directly into sustainable, high-demand careers in the utility sector.”

As a national model designed to connect veterans with high-demand careers, this tuition-free, six-month program trains students to safely construct and operate natural gas distribution systems.

Launched nearly a decade ago by Richard Passarelli—the National Director of Veterans Affairs for the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA)—in partnership with UWUA’s Local 18007, the UWUA Power for America Trust, and Peoples Gas, the initiative has successfully guided hundreds of veterans into the utility industry. Pictured from the left: William Attig, Elizabeth Belcaster, Richard Passarelli and Brian Murray. 

Throughout their training, students receive comprehensive support from the college’s Veterans Services Center and the Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services. Upon successful completion, graduates earn a certificate, 52 college credits toward an associate degree, and an offer for a paid apprenticeship with a local utility company including Peoples Gas.

If you are a veteran and interested in the UMAP program, click here to learn more.

Photo credit: J. Augustyn/City Colleges of Chicago