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Guiao named recipient of OCA Gold Mountain Scholarship
Lallane Guiao, a former student of Saipan Southern High School, has been selected as one of the beneficiaries of the OCA-UPS Gold Mountain Scholarship this year, which entitles her to $2,000 for her college education.
OCA stands for the Organization of Chinese Americans and aims to embrace the hopes and aspirations of Asian-Pacific Americans in the United States. It is a national organization founded in 1973 dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian-Pacific Americans.
Guiao’s selection was announced by the organization’s executive director Tom Hayashi, who disclosed that the CNMI student was among the only 15 students selected from a pool of over 500 finalists for 2012.
“OCA and UPS Gold Mountain Foundation recognize that scholarships are critical in helping students from lower income families attain a college education. We believe that your application demonstrates a strong passion and dedication for your pursuit of higher education,” stated Hayashi in a letter to Guiao.
In an interview yesterday, Guiao was elated and grateful for the award and described the financial assistance as a great help. “This means a lot to me. Coming from a little island and from a low-income family, it would have been hard to settle for my first year [in college]. So this extra financial help will help me cover some of my needs,” she told Saipan Tribune.
Guiao is convinced that both her academic and extra-curricular involvements in school and communities helped her secure the award.
Guiao, 17, is currently enrolled at Wesleyan University in Connecticut where she is majoring in education and political science. She wants to be a lawyer someday.
Guiao was also recently awarded scholarships by the Joeten Scholarship and QuestBridge Scholarship programs.
Guiao is the daughter of Hilario and Regina Guiao. She recently graduated as her batch’s principal awardee and was ranked ninth in the class. She was also an active member of the school’s National Honor Society, JROTC program, mock trial team, and had won awards in competitions like the Attorney Generals’ Cup and Sengabau Poetry Competition, among others.
By Moneth Deposa
Reporter
