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Cruz is first recipient of MYPros Crank Award
Nominees of several awards for the Marianas Young Professionals listen as Ashley Kost explains her role at the Office of the Public Auditor. (Erwin Encinares)
Bonny Cruz is the recipient of the first Crank Award that was presented during the Marianas Young Professional’s 3rd annual anniversary party at the Hyatt Regency Saipan ballroom.
Three other awards were given out during the event, including the Volunteer of the Year award, which went to Brent Deleon Guerrero, the Spotlight Award, which went to Monique B. Sablan, and the Young Professional of the Year award, which went to James Lee.
The Crank Award, which, according to MYPros vice president Nola Hix, goes to individuals who have excelled in sports and is named after mixed-martial arts fighter Frank “The Crank” Camacho, was awarded to Cruz, who has excelled not only in sports but has also overcome several obstacles, such as open-heart surgery at the age of 16.
“Receiving the Crank Award is an honor,” said Cruz. She noted that Camacho “exemplifies an essential quality of great leadership—perseverance.”
“I am so grateful for the MYPros for acknowledging my achievements and I am so honored to have received the Crank Award.”
Cruz represented the CNMI at the 2017 Micronesian Cup in Guam with her all-woman’s outrigger canoe team, the Marianas Pacific Paddlers, or MPP. Her team went on to win gold for the CNMI in the 1000-meter sprints and 5th place in the 500-meter sprints.
During the 2018 Micronesian Games in Yap, Cruz represented the CNMI in the Olympic weightlifting events. “More importantly, I hit new personal records in both lifts—the snatch and the clean-and-jerk. Achieving a personal best is the most rewarding feeling in my opinion,” she wrote in a statement.
Cruz’s long list of achievements includes her being a certified scuba diver. Cruz also holds a master’s degree in International Teaching through the Framingham State University. She plans to pursue a doctoral degree.
Cruz teaches at the Koblerville Elementary School as a fifth-grade teacher and is a member of the KES leadership team for the past five years. She is also an instructor of the Education Technology Program.
