77 earn Latin honors in NMC graduation

Northern Marianas College students move their tassels on their mortarboards, marking their official graduation in last Saturday’s 38th Commencement Exercise of the Northern Marianas College at the Marianas High School Gymnasium. (Jon Perez)

A total of 77 graduates earned Latin honors in various degrees conferred at the 38th Commencement Exercise of the Northern Marianas College last Saturday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

Of the 257 degrees conferred, 10 were earned with summa cum laude honors, the highest award in academic excellence, while 23 were earned with magna cum laude and 44 had cum laude honors. Four of the 10 summa cum laude honorees earned Associate in Liberal Arts degrees led by Siha Ahn.

Maia D. Pangelinan, David B. Phan, and Yijia Zhao joined Ahn in being conferred Liberal Arts degrees, while Patrick Cloyd L. Agustin, Do Hyeon Kwo, and Lizelle Kathleen C. Lim duplicated the feat in Business Administration with Accounting Emphasis.

Renedel Christian U. Buna and Glory Nina T. Legaspi were the summa cum laude honorees in BA in Computer Applications, while Agustin earned his second degree with the same Latin honor, this time with Business emphasis. Josephine N. Estrada was the lone summa cum laude graduate in Criminal Justice.

NMC’s first president, Dr. Catherine “Kit” Porter Van Meter, was the keynote speaker. She told the graduates that it’s not the view of others what’s important. “On your new path as a college graduate you will have to know when to be confident in your own knowledge of who you are.”

“You will need to decide when to follow the opinion others have of you…and you will need to let people help you find your path along the way—people who have already walked where you want to walk,” she added.

Current NMC president Dr. Carmen Fernandez congratulated all graduates on their remarkable achievement. “All of you have worked hard to earn you degrees and we join your families in expressing tremendous pride for this important accomplishment.”

“I know your journey to graduation has not always been an easy one. And we applaud each and every one of you for your unwavering commitment to your academic goals, your persistence through obstacles, and for the years of hard work and perseverance that you have invested into earning your college degree.”

Those who earned magna cum laude honors were Laurea Jena P. Briosos and Marchie Frank Fernandez (in Business); Byong Ha Kim, Cheonsu Kim, Rita Ramona S. Lifoifoi, Michael T. Santos (Liberal Arts); Sol Lee, Trina Lyn G. Santos, and Lin Zhou (AA in Education); Kimberly Mae DLC Magno and Jordan R. Pangilinan (Business Administration with Accounting and Business Management Emphasis); Angelray T. Guerrero, Harold Christopher L. Omotoy, and Jesse Ray D. Salalila (BA Computer Applications Emphasis); Sean Benedict C. Palma (Hospitality Management); Jarrod T. Manglona (Criminal Justice); Dianne Marie J. Pablo (Natural Resources Management); Elizabeth Joy A. Solito, Francis Darell Q. Tomokane, and Keisuke Yoshida (Business Management); Patricia Z. Cortez and Shin-ha Sheena Kang Saures (Elementary Education); and Celina Kyna S. Biado (Rehabilitation & Human Services).