CNMI officials laud 11 Gates scholars

CNMI Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, along with education officials Herman T. Guerrero and Dr. Rita A. Sablan, welcomed the news of the Commonwealth having 11 students accepted in the Gates Millennium Scholarship Program.

The GMS was established in 1989 from a $1-billion grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It aims to help and provide opportunity for minority students that excel academically to get a college education.

The CNMI has 11 students in the GMS program with six coming from Kagman High School, while two are from Marianas High School with Saipan Southern High School, Tinian Junior Senior High School, and Mt. Carmel School having one each.

The Federated States of Micronesia has three—two from Chuuk and one from Yap; Guam and Palau have two apiece, while one passed from American Samoa. The State of California has the highest number of students accepted to the program with 181.

Torres said he was pleased to learn that a high number of CNMI students managed to earn the “coveted and highly competitive Gates Millennium Scholarship” program.

“This is incredible news and a perfect reflection of the hard work of the teachers, parents, and students put into advancing the students’ educational achievements and standards,” said Torres.

He added the CNMI could have the highest awardees per capita with 11 students in the GMS program.

Guerrero, the chairman of the Board of Education, said he was impressed and surprised after learning the news especially with KHS having six as they have been always outshone by MHS in the past.

“It is always nice to have a friendly competition between schools. Congratulations to all students that got accepted in the program and to their teachers who helped in guiding them towards that path,” said Guerrero.

He added that KHS excelling this year is proof that more seniors are considering getting a college degree. “Congratulations to their principal Leila Staffler and their teacher [Gerald] van Gils for believing in them.”

“This is also good for the CNMI since it shows that we are doing the right thing, from the teachers to Kinder, elementary, middle or junior high, and high school.”

Sablan, the education commissioner, said that having 11 Millennium Gates scholars is awesome news. “I’m proud of the 11 scholars for being competitive. It was always been the PSS’ vision for our students to graduate and become career ready.”

She added that the high number of CNMI students in the GMS program is an indication that the youth of the Commonwealth are becoming more competitive. “They want to show that they could do what the students in the mainland could do.”

“I’m proud of the achievements of these students and a huge thank you to all the teachers for guiding them. This just shows that if we can all come and work together we can achieve a lot of things.”

Cassey Babauta, Elizabeth Basa, Josepha Cabrera, Victor Juan Castro, Nimei George, and Karen Laoyan are the six KHS students while Roselyn Tanghal and Mary Grace Tiglao are the two from MHS. SSHS has Eliezha Mendoza while Odorico San Nicolas is from TJSHS. Mt. Carmel School’s Thomas Manglona II rounded up the list.