Project Graduation: NMC scholars at their best

The Northern Marianas College’s only honor society, Beta Lambda Psi Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa, successfully collected 566 books for all ages and 909 non-perishable food items for this year’s Project Graduation.

In a statement, the group said the result of their special project was more than what they had expected.

“[It was] an outcome worth more than expected,” said committee co-chair Tatiana Babauta. “We had over 15 cases of milk and Hi-C, over 300 packages of soba, a complete set of kid’s Encyclopedia and lots and lots of other canned foods,” added co-chair Randy Mendoza.

Project Graduation: Feed a Body…Feed a Mind! combats social issues of hunger and illiteracy through the collection of books and non-perishable food items at college commencement ceremonies for distribution to needy recipients through community relief agencies and literacy organizations.

About a month prior to NMC’s 24th commencement exercise, over 10 Phi Theta Kappans, including advisor Eleanor T. Cabrera, accepted the international challenge to fight hunger and illiteracy in the local community.

PTK members, with the strong leadership of this year’s committee co-chairs, Babauta and Mendoza, began with the collection of books and nonperishable food items in front of Price Costco on three separate Fridays in May.

A number of promotional activities ensued, including interviews with Power 99 and 103.9 KZMI radio stations.

The project’s finale took place at NMC’s 24th commencement exercise on May 22.

All items collected through Project Graduation were donated to Karidat Social Services on May 27. Karidat is a private, non-profit social service agency, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors under the umbrella of the Catholic Diocese of Chalan Kanoa. It has been in existence since 1981, and services to the people of the CNMI take place across numerous programs, including the shelter for victims of domestic violence.

According to executive director Angie V. Deleon Guerrero, the donations “will really help us a lot. The food donated will add to our almost empty food pantry, which we use for our emergency food services, and will also be used at the shelter, as well as for our Guest Worker Assistance and Family Services programs. The books will be used in our Teen Center program and the children’s playroom at the shelter. We also try to make sure we have books available for clients to read and take who are waiting to be served in our main office.”

See Cabrera, Francis Ziergiebel, John Moreno, Kassandra Santos, Judd Chaudhry, Cathy Cepeda, Li Lin, Neischangpi Satur, Natalie Hill, Leslie Cabrera, Lucia Henry, Angelyn Sills, Doris Aldan-Atalig, and Dr. Debra T. Cabrera are among other NMC-PTK members and advisors who contributions to Project Graduation.

“We would like to thank all those who contributed to the success of this year’s Project Graduation,” the group said.

NMC’s Beta Lambda Psi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa challenges other CNMI students and schools to do the same, especially during their own graduation ceremonies.