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FHB, magazine award NMC students with scholarships
First Hawaiian Bank and Guam Business magazine awarded $7,410 worth of scholarships to six Northern Marianas College students yesterday at the Board of Regents conference room.
Shirley Sablan, this year’s FHB Businesswoman of the Year, was there to congratulate the students.
From left to right, Lauren Basa, Denicia Avendano, Roy Alegre, Claudette San Nicolas, and Jasmine Che, this year’s 2014 First Hawaiian Bank and Guam Business magazine businesswoman of the year scholars. Behind them stand Northern Marianas College officials, FHB and GMB representatives, and businesswoman of the year Shirley Sablan. (Dennis B. Chan)
“I’m glad you guys have chosen to start smart and start at NMC,” she said.
The students’ awards were based on how many credits they enrolled in this semester.
Since 2006, a total of $284,237 has been awarded to 92 students in both Guam and Saipan.
This year eight scholars were awarded in Guam, and six on Saipan. Lauren Basa, Roy Alegre, Denicia Avendano, Jasmine Che, and Claudette San Nicolas were present to accept their awards.
Lauren Basa, who is a freshman at NMC under the business management program, said she is enjoying her experience so far and hopes to become a top executive in the hotel industry on island someday.
She said she plans to attend school at NMC for all the four years of the program.
She received $1,140 in scholarship money yesterday and expects to use it to pay for her tuition.
Roy Alegre, notably the only male scholar, said the application was challenging because it was intended for women mostly. However, he felt he answered the essay part of the application well.
He hopes to be businessman as well, and just completed his associate degree in business from NMC in May. He looks forward to completing his bachelor’s degree at the college as well.
Magazine publisher Maureen Maratita encouraged the students to participate in future scholarships.
“Many of our awardees have family, work, all sorts of community commitments. We’re glad we can take some of the financial pressure off their backs and encourage them to complete their education,” she said.
The award is available to NMC students to reapply if they wish to pursue their education in Guam as well, she said.
Maratita said there are success stories from people who have been helped from the awards, like several valedictorians in college, and some who have gone on to work for federal agencies.
“The Northern Marianas will need business managers. It is important to the community,” she said.
