10 UOG graduates receive Latin honor designations

Ten graduates from the University of Guam’s Criminal Justice bachelors program hosted through Northern Marianas College received their Latin honor designations at a ceremony on Friday, April 12. In the photo with the honorees are, from left, top row, University of Guam associate professor of Public Administration Ronald McNinch-Su, executive director for the CNMI Criminal Justice Planning Agency Zerlyn Taimanao, UOG associate director of Global Learning and Engagement Amanda Blas, dDean of UOG’s School of Business and Public Administration Annete Santos, Northern Marianas College regent Zenie Mafnas, NMC president Galvin Deleon Guerrero, UOG associate professor of Public Administration John Rivera, and UOG director for Global Learning and Engagement Carlos Taitano. (NMC)

Ten graduates from the University of Guam’s Criminal Justice bachelors program hosted through Northern Marianas College received their Latin honor designations at a ceremony last Friday, April 22. Leaders from University of Guam and NMC personally awarded the designation. 

Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, cum laude) used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. 

Although the 10 students received their degrees last year, the honors were awarded later in this ceremony held last Friday with the personal attendance of representatives from UOG.

The lone student who received the summa cum laude distinction is Josephine Estrada, the magna cum laude honorees are Cornessa Dela Cruz, Leon Lizama, Devin Macaranas, and Joseph Mafnas, and the cum laude honorees are the late Arianne Cabrera, Mikiotti Evangelista, Lorielyn Lacay, Zachary Taitano, and Anjerika Yamagishi.

The family of the late Arianne Cabrera, a graduate of University of Guam’s criminal justice program, were present at the ceremony to receive Cabrera’s diploma with the distinction. In photo from left is Northern Marianas College president Galvin Deleon Guerrero, NMC regent Zenie Mafnas, Joan Boongaling, Jorianne Cabrera, Ray Boongaling, UOG associate professor of Public Administration Ronald McNinch-Su, dean of UOG’s School of Business and Public Administration Annete Santos, NMC state director for the Adult Education Program Lorraine Maui, and NMC Criminal Justice Department chair Clement Bermudes.(NMC)

During the ceremony on Friday, NMC president Galvin Deleon Guerrero, EdD congratulated the graduates who received their honors distinctions. 

“Know that when you receive that honor, it’s honoring not just your achievement—it’s honoring the connections that help you reach that achievement,” Deleon Guerrero told the honorees. “You are now connected to the legacy of a Triton family that is 70 years strong and the legacy of a Proa tribe that is 40 years strong.”

Dr. Annette T. Santos, dean of the UOG School of Business and Public Administration, also addressed the honorees and told them that it is an “amazing accomplishment.”

“I look forward to celebrating our graduates that have come here today for this Latin honors ceremony,” Santos said. “It really is the result of the collective effort of your families, your friends, your support system, and also institutions that care about you. I hope that that spirit of care carries through in the work that you will do as graduates of both our institutions.”

Estrada, one of the graduates who received a distinction, said she is grateful for the partnership between UOG and NMC. 

“[This cohort] has allowed us to complete our bachelor’s degree from home as well as strengthen the relationship between UOG and NMC,” Estrada said. “It is a nice feeling knowing that all of our hard work paid off.”

Macaranas, another graduate, was also honored to be a part of the cohort.

“In the near future I intend on furthering my education in criminal justice and utilizing it to give back to my CNMI community through law enforcement,” Macaranas said. “I would like to thank the NMC team who made the program happen, namely Professors Zerlyn Taimanao and Joe Taijeron, who provided so much to us as students throughout our academic journeys.”

Taijeron and Taimanao were later commended by Admissions chair Dr. Ronald L. McNinch-Su for their hard work and dedication to the criminal justice program. 

“This program would not have happened without their hard work,” McNinch-Su said. “It’s the administrative backbone that really creates these wonderful things.”

‘She persevered’ 
Also honored at the Latin honors ceremony was Cabrera, who posthumously received the distinction of cum laude. Cabrera passed away shortly after receiving her degree last year due to complications from Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer.

At Friday’s ceremony, her family was there to receive her diploma with the distinction.

“We’re really proud of Arianne,” her mother, Joan Boongaling said. Her stepfather, Ray, shared the same sentiments. 

In Deleon Guerrero’s opening remarks, he said that Cabrera continued to persevere to get her diploma. 

“Despite typhoons, despite a pandemic, despite her own personal health challenges, she persisted—she graduated,” Deleon Guerrero said. “We were so blessed that last year she was actually able to walk at that graduation.”

Macaranas said he would also like to express honor and gratitude to Cabrera, whom he considered someone as family.

“She persevered in this program diligently, alongside many challenges she was faced with, and on top of it all, she still managed to be such a great friend as we carried each other throughout all of undergraduate school,” Macaranas said. “We graduated together with our associate degree and our bachelor’s degree, to which I can attest that Arianne was one of the most hardworking and unselfish people I have ever met. Although she is unfortunately no longer with us today, her strong-willed character will live with us forever.”

McNinch-Su also lauded Cabrera in his remarks for her determination to finish her degree.
“She’s smart, she was motivated, and a fine and wonderful young person,” McNinch-Su said. “I was so impressed and I was very saddened to hear about her passing away.” (NMC)