17 youths graduate from int’l hospitality program

The Latte Training Academy graduates 17 students under the American Hotel and Lodging Education Institute’s START program yesterday in the Napu Room of Pacific Islands Club Saipan. (Dennis B. Chan)

Seventeen young professionals earned their certification from the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute’s START program yesterday after completing 180 hours of training throughout the close of last school year and this summer.

The closing program was held at the Napu Room of the Pacific Islands Club.

Arielle Buyum, president of Latte Training Academy, commended this first batch of students for taking on training on top of their regular hours school and taking time from their summer vacation to complete the training.

“[These students] represent employability. They represent individuals who know what it takes to work and grow in the hotel and hospitality industry,” Buyum said.

Of the 17 students, four graduated with honors, scoring 90 percent or more in correct answers on their tests.

One of these students, recent top 3 MHS graduate Magdiel Corpuz, said he most enjoyed the program’s shadowing component in which the students were able to experience the different professions and ins and outs of a hotel.

“You get to experience it not only in the classroom but in real life. That was a great tool for me, because right now with the certification, I feel more prepared to work in the hotel industry,” he said.

Incoming high school senior Chelsea Karen Fama said that she and her fellow students would do their best in proving the effectiveness of the program by earning jobs in the hotel industry.

According to her, the training program inspired her for her future.

“I actually decided a week ago that I want to get a degree in international tourism,” Fama said.

Jim Arenovski, Island Training Solutions president, , noted in a speech to the students how proud he was of them.

“They took the opportunity when most did not,” he said.

He spoke of the important role these students and the program would play as the island works to not only develop its investments or environmental cleanliness but also its investment and development of its human resources.

“It is the connection that each one of these individuals makes with our tourists—whether it’s with a smile, a gesture, or an action—that will help keep our guests returning to Saipan, Tinian, and Rota,” he said.

To other students in the community, Fama has this message: “I would say that this program is worth it and it’s an investment and when you put the time into something like this, you can actually think of a career in this field.”