JSA gets $50K from Aqua, nothing yet from govt

Aqua Resort Club has pledged $50,000 to the Junior Statesmen of America but the same cannot be said of the local government, which so far has yet to cough up a single cent to help students join the summer school program this year.

JSA is a program for aspiring high school students who seek exposure to Ivy League universities.

Office of the Insular Affairs program coordinator Christi Omengebar assembled 29 high school students Wednesday at the 13th Fishermen Utt for a brief meeting on the status of the JSA program.

Omengebar assured the students that her office would do its best to assure that they continue to get assistance from the government. She said the government helped them out the past eight years and gave the JSA program $50,000 last year.

Omengebar said the participating students are now assured of at least $1,300 each to alleviate the costs of their academic journey because of the Aqua Resort donation.

Airlines have also offered their support by providing discounted airfare rates for the students. Omengebar said Continental Airlines offered rates of at least $1,000 per student, while Northwest Airlines gave $729-$900 to their chosen destination.

Mathew Deleon Guerrero, a high school student at Mount Carmel School, sent a letter to the Office of the Governor early this month requesting for $95,000 in financial assistance for the program.

He said he is anxious about the amount the government could provide this time. He is also hoping that the government would not lower the grant based on his initial request.

Deleon Guerrero said he has always believed in the government, especially in its support of education. Guerrero is thinking of going to Princeton University.

Edward Sablan, a sophomore also from Mount Carmel School, said he hopes to go to Stanford University. He said he chose Stanford because of recommendations from family and friends. He said he is also hoping the government would help students who have the initiative to learn but could not afford the program.

Saipan Southern High School sophomore student Madelline Jacob is choosing Yale University. She said this is her first time to join the program and, since she wants to expand her horizon, she is also trying hard to solicit assistance from “generous people.”

Eli Buenaventura, a parent of one of the participants, said his family is supporting his son, Ralph, to join the program because they believe that it is a great opportunity for him to experience attending a full-fledged university.

He said he believes the program will sharpen his son’s public speaking skills as well as leadership skills. The younger Buenaventura attends Grace Christian Academy.