NMC students sought for BUILD EXITO program

Northern Marianas College graduate Beda Mundo, who is now a student at Portland State University, is one of the BUILD EXITO scholars. (Contributed Photo)

The Northern Marianas College, in collaboration with Portland State University, is announcing its third round of recruitment for students interested in participating in the BUILD EXITO program. 

The BUILD EXITO program is an undergraduate research training program funded by the National Institute of Health that is geared toward training students/scholars who are interested in conducting scientific research in biomedical, bioengineering, behavioral, clinical, health, and social topics. 

The goals of this program are to help engage scholars in finding solutions to today’s major health problems and to give them an opportunity to have hands-on, paid research experience. Participating scholars will have the opportunity to receive over $1,000 per month stipend, receive faculty and peer mentoring, and attend Portland State University to earn their bachelor of science degree.

Currently, NMC is in its third year participating in the program and has five scholars who have already begun their training.

Beda Mundo, an NMC scholar who is currently attending PSU and working towards earning her bachelor’s degree in Health Studies: Community Health, recently said, “Being an EXITO scholar has helped me grow as a future researcher. With the amazing support of my mentors, I was able to navigate not only PSU, but also other areas of Portland such as the Oregon Health Science University, thus having a strong network. The best part of being an EXITO scholar is being paid to study more on research relating to what you want to learn while being supported on your way to success.”

To be eligible to participate in the program, applicants must meet the following requirements: 1) are either U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or non-citizen nationals, 2) are full-time undergraduate students at NMC, 3) have at least three years remaining in their degree program (projected graduation date no earlier than spring 2020), and 4) have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. 

The application deadline is Feb. 28, 2017. Application information can be found on www.pdx.edu/exito/prospective-scholars.

For further information about BUILD EXITO, contact Charlotte Cepeda, NMC School of Education Director, at charlotte.cepeda@marianas.edu; Dr. Beylul Solomon, associate professor for NMC School of Education in Rehabilitation & Human Services, at beylul.solomon@marianas.edu, or Roland Merar, assistant professor for NMC School of Education in Elementary Education at roland.merar@marianas.edu. (NMC)