20 Framingham graduates get their master’s degrees

Members of Framingham State University Cohort 9 officially earned their master’s degree in education during commencement exercises held at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center on May 27.

Dr. Sharon Y. Hart, president of the Northern Marianas College, which has a partnership agreement with the first public university founded for the education of teachers, conferred the degree on the 20 graduates.

Cohort 9 graduates are Svetlana Atalig, Jeremiah Lacapa Benavente, Raena Sablan Bermudes, Francine Borja Camacho, Kimberly Concepcion, Patricia Jane C. Deleon Guerrero, Annamarie Schoen Guerrero, William D. Harwood, Megan Nevitt Loken, Peter Benjamin Loken, Aaron Mar, Melissa D. Mendez, Paul Miura, Joseph John Shirai Muna, Raymond Mafnas Muna, Valerie Yvette Mendiola Nada, Asapmar Sven Bennett Ogumoro, Niyanina P. Reyes-Ross, Bernadet Padua Torres, and Courtney Zietzke.

Last Sunday’s ceremony was witnessed by family members, friends, and other guests who congratulated the graduates for an important milestone in their lives. Also attending the event were Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan and NMC’s Galvin Deleon Guerrero.

Hart, in her remarks, acknowledged the graduates and wished them “the very best” in their future endeavors.

“As graduates of the most senior university in the entire United States that has focused on teacher education, do all you can to continue this university’s educational excellence. Exhibit it in all that you do as fellow educators,” Hart said.

The event also featured the Saipan Southern High School Battalion Color Guard for the presentation of colors, Fr. Celso Magbanua Jr. for the invocation, William D. Harwood as class singer, and Fred Camacho as emcee.

With its home campus in Massachusetts, Framingham State University is a “comprehensive liberal arts institution offering 25 undergraduate degree programs in arts, humanities, sciences, social sciences, and professional fields as well as graduate degrees in 23 fields, including an extensive graduate program for teachers.

Framingham State University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, a non-governmental and nationally recognized organization whose affiliated institutions include elementary schools through collegiate institutions offering post-graduate instruction.