Rota student named Gates Millennium scholar

A student from Rota has been named as one of this year’s recipients of the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship that entitles her to a full academic scholarship throughout college.

Bernadita Ann Atalig Manglona, currently a senior student at Academy of Our Lady of Guam, was notified April 15 by the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund about her inclusion on the list.

Saipan Tribune learned that Manglona finished her kindergarten at Rota’s Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja and then transferred to Guam for her elementary and high school.

She is the daughter of Vincent and Benita Manglona.

Bernadita, 18, wants to pursue college at the University of Washington.

“It’s her dream to become a dentist…and she’s determined to get it,” her proud mother said.

Bernadita is also an active member of school organizations and a participant in a number of community events and programs.

“She’s not only academically-inclined…but very much involved in sports activities too,” the mother said, adding that her daughter was recently named the school’s most valuable player in paddling.

Saipan Tribune learned that the student was also among the delegates in last year’s World Youth Day celebration in Australia.

“The family is very proud of her. We’ve seen her hard work for the last four years and she deserves this achievement,” the mother added.

According to Neil Horikoshi, president and executive director of the scholarship fund, the Gates Millennium Scholars Program attracted over 20,500 applicants this year.

“It is a distinct honor for you to be recognized as one of the 1,000 Gates Millennium Scholars for the GSM class of 2009,” he told Manglona in his congratulatory message.

He disclosed that this is the program’s 10th anniversary class.

Horikoshi commended the student from Rota for her strong leadership, community service, and academic achievements that have distinguished her as a “Leader for America’s Future.”

As a Gates Millennium scholar, funds are available for Manglona’s college education at any U.S. accredited college or university of her choice.

The scholarship is a renewable scholarship based on program guidelines.

If Manglona pursues graduate studies in the fields of computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, or public health, she is also eligible for GSM fellowship funding.

According to Horikoshi, the GSM program is much more than a scholarship. Its leadership and scholar relations programs offer academic empowerment services to support academic success and graduate education planning.

In addition, it also provide a wide range of resources, including a GSM leadership conference specifically designed to orient and prepare them to maximize their GSM experience, a mentoring program, and an online resource center that gives them access to internships, fellowships, and other scholarships.