Four NMC ROTC cadets win awards

Several cadets of the Northern Marianas College’s Reserve Officers Training Corps program were presented with top awards at an annual awards ceremony held Friday, May 22, in coordination with the University of Guam ROTC Program.

The awards were handed in an online ceremony attended by NMC interim president Frankie Eliptico, UOG president Tom Krise, Lt. Col. Tom Anderson, who is the professor of Military Science and director of NMC’s ROTC program. 

Babauta

The “Top Cadet” award was awarded to the best freshman and sophomore at NMC, as well as the best overall cadet in the NMC ROTC program.  The “Top Cadet” award at the freshman level was won by NMC cadet Kody Babauta, who graduated from Saipan Southern High School.  The award winner from the sophomore class was NMC cadet Bert Magallano, a fellow graduate of Saipan Southern High School, who said that “the person who was most helpful to me was [NMC ROTC instructor] Capt. Thomas Vu. …I was interested in the program before meeting him, but his mentorship, motivation, and character has lit up an even bigger appetite in me to become a better version of myself.”

Their award is conferred upon the cadets who display outstanding performance, commitment, and dedication to the ROTC program, and who best demonstrate the potential to serve as a leader in our Army. Additionally, one NMC cadet won the coveted “Spirit” award, which recognizes the cadet who best exemplifies the concept of service to the unit, the community, and to our nation.

Pangelinan

The “Top Cadet of the Program” award was earned by NMC cadet Gavin Pangelinan, who also graduated from Saipan Southern High School.  “I couldn’t have come this far without my peers in NMC ROTC,” said Pangelinan. “I look forward to the bright futures that lie ahead of us, and the memories we will make along the way.”

The “Spirit” award recipient for NMC ROTC was cadet Sean Japor, who graduated from Marianas High School. Japor acknowledged that what keeps him motivated is “being with cadets who help me through the struggles, and succeeding together in the end.”  The “Spirit” award is sponsored by USAA and Japor received a Leatherman multi-tool, along with the plaque.

Magallano

According to Anderson, the NMC awardees “are a great example of the commitment and motivation of all of the cadets in the program.  They all work so well together, motivating each other to be the best leaders they can be.  It’s so much fun to be a part of their growth and development as young people and as leaders.”

“We are proud of the students and their achievement,” said Eliptico. “Their commitment and dedication are an amazing inspiration for other students at NMC and for our CNMI community.”

Japor

NMC’s ROTC program is the premiere leadership development program in the CNMI, producing dynamic leaders for the CNMI, the Pacific, and the United States of America. 

The program is accepting new applicants. To learn more about the UOG ROTC program at NMC, email zerlyn.taimanao@marianas.edu. (PR)