MCS AlumKnights give back to their alma mater

Over the past few years, Mount Carmel School has seen an increase in the number of her alumni—dubbed “AlumKnights” after the school’s mascot—give back to their alma mater by teaching there. Fulfilling the dreams of pioneering teachers like Sr. Mary Louise Balzarini, these AlumKnights now make up almost a third of the faculty and staff at the school. What follows are the reflections of a few AlumKnight on what it’s been like to come home.

Jacqueline P. Che, ‘05
When not busy as the director of Institutional Effectiveness at Northern Marianas College, a member of the Pacific Century Fellows, and an active member of the island community, 2005 AlumKnight Jacqueline “Jackie” P. Che somehow finds time to both teach at her alma mater and serve on its board of directors. A teacher of Advanced Placement United States History for about three years now, Che runs down to the school from the college during her lunch hour to teach her course.

When asked what motivates her, Che said, “I agreed to teach because I love Mount Carmel School in general and these students especially because they are so eager and willing to learn. My work here at MCS is something I’m very passionate about, especially since I attended here for all 12 years and I feel I owe it to give back to a school that’s given me so much.”

As an AlumKnight, Che is very proud of her alma mater. “We have amazing students who are proud of their school as well and very dedicated and motivated faculty, staff, and leaders.  

“Whenever I come back to campus I see the love there and that love inspires me and makes me proud of the school. We have a long and rich legacy and I feel I’m doing my part to move that legacy forward.”

John Del Rosario, ’06
Freelance writer, magazine editor, social media impresario, and political aficionado are just some of the many roles that 2006 AlumKnight John Del Rosario has held over the years. But that did not stop him from returning to his alma mater in 2014 to teach English and Journalism. John, or, as his students have come to call him, “Mr. Delro,” returned to his alma mater because of a promise he made when he graduated. He recalled that at his graduation ceremony, Bishop Emeritus Tomas A. Camacho “shook my hand and said, ‘Will you come back to teach?’ And so I said yes and knew that I had to come back sooner or later.”

Since coming back, Del Rosario has appreciated the support and room to grow that he has been granted as a teacher. “The school gives teachers the creative control to do what they do, which gives me an opportunity to express myself, to teach in the style that I want to teach.”  In particular, Del Rosario appreciates the opportunity to bridge the gap between his generation of AlumKnights and the current generation of Knights.

Above all, though, Del Rosario values the rapport he has developed with his students. “At one point, I tweeted something about the students and I referred to them as ‘my kids.’ Something happened there,” he said. “That’s when I realized this thing, showing up from 7am to 4pm everyday is more than just a job; it’s my mission to see that ‘my kids’ move forward in life.”

Crystal Cing Cabrera, ’05
Even while a student at her alma mater, 2005 AlumKnight Crystal Cing Cabrera got a taste of what it’s like to teach because back then, her mother, Abigail Cabrera, was teaching at the school. But now, Cabrera is in the front of the class teaching, and although her mother is a lifelong educator, teaching is something Cabrera never thought she would do.

“I wanted to do volunteer work on the weekends, but the principal, Mrs. [Frances] Taimanao said we don’t have an art teacher right now. I wasn’t sure if it would work out, but it did and here I am.”

Like Che, to teach at her alma mater, Cabrera runs over during her lunch breaks from her work at the Department of Public Works in architecture and engineering. Despite this challenge, Cabrera felt compelled to give back to the school. “Mount Carmel School has always had such a great art program. From 1st grade we were doing oil pastels with the Zepedas, and because of that program, I found my calling in architecture.”

However, she recalls that, at first, her students didn’t feel the same way about art. “On the first day, everyone was like, ‘I’m not an artist.’” That soon changed though. “Now my students that have never drawn before are surprising me by not only applying what I’m teaching but also creating their own pieces.” This has only reinforced her belief that “everyone is an artist it’s just about developing your skill and having a creative outlet.”

Other AlumKnights
Future stories will feature reflections from other AlumKnights who are giving back to their alma mater, including the following:  Fred Guerrero ’84, John Blanco ’90, Galvin Deleon Guerrero ’91, Roxanne Diaz ’94, Tasia Sablan ’05, Francine Atalig ’05, and Kevin Bautista ’11. (MCS)