Groups, individuals honored for environment work

Four groups were accorded the highest honor by Beautify CNMI! Thursday night last week with the announcement of the winners of its annual awards program, recognizing those who made the biggest contribution to the cause of the environment the previous year.

The awarding ceremony was in line with the second-year anniversary of the non-profit organization and took place during the Hotel Association of Northern Mariana Islands and Beautify CNMI’s fundraising show “A Magical Night of Ukulele with Jake Shimabukuro” at the Saipan World Resort.

The CNMI Steward Award, considered the highest award that night, was presented to the Friends of the Mariana Islands who help pick up trash on a weekly basis; the Marianas Dive for its monthly underwater cleanups; the Paseo Marianas Promoters for restoring the Paseo de Marianas as a family-friendly area; and to Max Aguon and the Sugar Dock Boys for taking care of Sugar Dock.

Beautify CNMI!’s Angelo Villagomez said that the CNMI Steward Award is given to individuals or groups who are considered the “backbone of Beautify CNMI.” These are the people who mostly go out on a weekly basis to take care of the environment.

Four individuals and a company, meanwhile, were recognized with the CNMI Champion Award, which is bestowed to individuals or groups “you read about in the newspaper talking about environment issues. They pick an issue, and they are out there in the public promoting it. It doesn’t necessarily have to be in one of the committees of Beautify CNMI,” Villagomez said.

This year’s Champion awardees are Nava Khorram, Maritess Castillo of Friends of the Mariana Islands, Katie Busenkell of PAWS, Mike Tripp of Marianas Dive, and Aqua Resort Club.

More than 20 groups and individuals received the CNMI Spirit Award. The award was given to “the different people on the islands who are doing things to make this a better place to live” and not necessarily for or under the auspices of Beautify CNMI.

Recipients of the award include American Red Cross, Tan Holdings Corp., Marian Aldan Pierce, Harry Blalock, PTI, Marianas Visitors Authority, Ruth Tighe, Absalon Waki, Jr., Rose Callier, Saipan Grand Hotel, Tanapag Boy Scouts, Brad Doerr, Ron and Nancy Kramis, CNMI Power, Shirley’s Coffee Shop, Marianas Resource Conservation & Development Council, PAWS, Isa CNMI, Mariana Island Nature Alliance, Pala Potu, Dr. Ignacio Dela Cruz, Bree Reynolds, Captain Carl Brachear, CNMI Lion’s Club, Kim Vaillancourt, Lihla Noori, Fiesta Resort and Spa Saipan, DEQ Cleanup Brigade, DLNR Forestry, Taotao Tano, Bank of Guam, and Hyatt Regency Saipan.

According to Villagomez, the winners were chosen by the different committees of the organization from a pool of nominations they received from the public.

Villagomez said that they decided to have the awarding coincide with the benefit show as it was an opportunity for people to realize how big the coalition of Beautify CNMI is.

“All the support comes from the community, and we’re just so blessed to have that kind of support, and Saipan is a lucky island,” he added.

Villagomez was also pleased about the number of people who came to watch the ukulele virtuoso perform. “[It was a] really good turnout,” he said.

Proceeds from the show will help fund Beautify CNMI’s and HANMI’s various programs and activities.