Gala dinner fundraiser at NMC

The Northern Marianas College will be celebrating its 25th Silver Anniversary in 2006. To launch this institutional celebration, the college will be sponsoring its 1st Annual NMC Board of Regents Fundraising Gala Dinner on Jan. 21, 2006.

The purpose of the Gala Dinner is to raise funds for a new Regents Scholarship Program that will be awarded to top academic students graduating from one of the CNMI high schools. The NMC Board of Regents’ goal for the 1st Annual Gala Dinner is to raise sufficient funds to award four full-scholarships to the top students from the Class of 2006. The Regents are planning to award four full institutional scholarships to two students from Saipan and one each from Tinian and Rota to attend NMC.

“This new scholarship program will provide an excellent opportunity for local students to start their college education here at NMC,” said BOR chair Kim Hinds, adding that, “through this new institutional assistance program, we are removing all financial barriers from attending college and we will be promoting greater accessibility to higher education opportunities among our CNMI residents.”

This Silver Anniversary celebration marks an important milestone in the history of the CNMI’s lone public postsecondary institution. Through 25 years of service, NMC has witnessed progress at all levels and college personnel continues to strive in transforming NMC into a quality higher education institution in the Pacific Asia region. NMC has been serving the CNMI community well by meeting its constitutionally-mandated mission.

“The mission of Northern Marianas College shall be to provide the best quality and meaningful postsecondary and adult educational opportunities for the purpose of improving the quality of life for the individual and for the Commonwealth as a whole. The college shall be responsible for providing education in the areas of adult and continuing education, postsecondary and adult vocational education and professional development for the people of the Commonwealth.”

The college received its initial accreditation in 1985 from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, or WASC. That accreditation was reaffirmed in 1990, 1996, and 2001. Also in 2001, NMC received initial accreditation from WASC’s Senior Commission to offer a baccalaureate degree program in elementary education. To date, NMC’s dual accreditation status is unique in the western accreditation region, with the college being one of only a few two-year colleges in the nation to have been awarded this status. NMC was also designated as a Land Grant institution by the U.S. Congress in 1986.

The business leaders, government, officials, and the CNMI community members are urged to help and support this NMC fundraising event. For tickets and more information, contact Vera Pangelinan at the NMC President’s Office at 234-5498, Ext. 1000 or e-mail her at verap@nmcnet.edu. (PR)