Insurance group awards scholarships to NMC students

Members of the Northern Marianas Insurance Association, composed of insurance companies in the CNMI, recently presented scholarship awards to Northern Marianas College students Rachel Reyes and Maria Castro, front row, second and third from left, respectively. Also in photo are NMC representatives. (Contributed Photo)

As part of its ongoing community service efforts to promote higher education among CNMI residents and to provide students with financial assistance as they pursue their educational goals, the Northern Marianas Insurance Association recently awarded two Northern Marianas College students with $500 scholarship awards.

“We are extremely thankful for the Northern Marianas Insurance Association’s scholarship awards to our very deserving students,” said NMC president Dr. Carmen Fernandez. “The organization’s contribution underscores the members’ commitment to building workforce capacity.”

The students who were selected to receive the NMIA scholarship are Rachel Reyes and Maria Castro, who had undergone a highly competitive application process that included an essay and panel interview.

“Both Rachel and Maria are excellent students and demonstrated qualities that embodied educational and character ideals regarded highly by the NMIA,” said Shirley Sablan, NMIA president. Sablan also works as executive vice president and general manager of Pacifica Insurance Underwriters, which is a member of NMIA.

“In addition to tuition, books, fees, there are many other expenses like rent and gas that students have to pay. The scholarship from the NMIA really helps us in our journey to our college degrees,” said Reyes.

“Being awarded this scholarship from NMIA allows me to focus more on my studies,” said Castro.

The Northern Marianas Insurance Association is an association of insurance companies whose purpose is to protect the rights of its members for the benefit of the consumer through education, information, networking and active participation in the political environment and community service. As part of its expanded purposes, the organization also carries out not-for-profit activities that contribute to the betterment of the CNMI socially, economically, politically and culturally consistent with the laws of CNMI and Bylaws.   

The NMIA’s members include Suzi Perez, director, Takagi Insurance/AIOI Insurance; Cathy Tenorio, vice president, Moylan’s/Dongbu Insurance and First Net Insurance; Pete Schilling, director, Associated Insurance Underwriters/Pacific Indemnity Insurance Company, Inc.; Gol Corpuz, treasurer, Century Insurance Company Ltd.; Eli Buenaventura, secretary, Calvo’s Insurance/AIG; and Shirley Sablan, president, Pacifica Insurance Underwriters/Tokio Marine Pacific Insurance Ltd.

“The NMIA college educational scholarship has been long time coming,” Sablan added. “As a part of our organization’s core focus on community partnerships and goodwill efforts, we have placed education and programs that support students who aspire to advance through higher education at the top of our list.”