7 CNMI graduates are awarded scholarships

Seven students from the CNMI were awarded the Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund.

Six students from Saipan and one student from Rota were among hundreds of recipients from 31 states, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, and Armed Forces locations across the world.

The CNMI recipients are Amery Jane Madeloso, Bertran Palacios, Jamie Borja, Magdiel Corpuz, Chakhrit Kapileo, Marielle Kapileo, and Maricel Atalig.

According to the scholarship organization’s website, the scholars represent many of the diverse groups within the Asian and Pacific Islander community.

Saipan Southern High School graduate Marielle Kapileo expressed gratitude to organizations like the APIASF that assist students with their college expenses.

“We all know college comes with a price tag. So every penny counts. Being a recipient of the APIASF and Wells Fargo scholarship is a blessing,” she said. “I intend to make every penny worth it.”

Kapileo,who will be attending LoneStar College, Cyfair, intends to major in Pre-Medical studies.

Fellow Manta Ray alumnus Bertran Palacios received the APIASF and AT&T Foundation Scholarship. He will be attending Tacoma Community College and plans to study Broadcast Journalism.

Marianas High School graduates Magdiel Corpuz, Amery Jane Madeloso, and Jamie Borja received the scholarship with contributions from Wells Fargo as well.

Madeloso will be studying Finance at Northern Marianas College. Borja, who intends to major in Physiology, will be studying under the roofs of the University of Guam. Corpuz, who will be studying at UOG, will be seeking a major in Business Administration.

Kagman High School graduate Chakhrit Kapileo will be studying Criminal Justice at Chaminade University. The Saipan student received the APIASF scholarship in collaboration with Wells Fargo.

The sole Rota scholarship recipient, Maricel Atalig, will be studying Nursing at the University of Guam. Atalig’s APIASF is in collaboration with the Coca-Cola Foundation Scholarship.

Nearly 50 percent of those who receive the scholarship will be the first in their family to go to college.

The scholarship fund ranges between $2,500 and $15,000 from different corporations and is a sister foundation with the Gates Millennium Scholarship.