McPhetres: NMC cuts through people’s lives

Northern Marianas College President Agnes McPhetres last Friday read a 26-page report which summarized the institution as well as her performance for over the last 16 years using the slogan “we’re so much more than a degree-granting institution.”

While a series of slides showing a busy day of moving hospital beds out of the old Dr. Torres Hospital, the institution she led has blossomed to a comprehensive community college and addressed the economic development needs of the Commonwealth.

She cited such programs as the Aqua culture Research, Business Development Center and the planned Business and Tourism Development Center.

Next week, its Business Development Center will host the first Economic Summit in the CNMI. While its Plant Diagnostic Laboratory center at Kagman is the first in the Western Pacific.

Academic wise, NMC is a fully accredited institution.

She said many people would associate NMC with her presidency. “But if I had my way, when you think of NMC, you would think not of the constants, like buildings and people, which remain at the college year after, but of the people whose lives we touched immeasurably,” McPhetres said.

In the audience, she acknowledged Joey Arriola, who graduated from NMC in 1990 with Associate of Arts degree. In 1997, he completed law from Ohio University and considered NMC as a good springboard for higher education.

For programs funded by Public Law 5-32, Winnie Camacho, wife of Rep. Rosiky Camacho, cut in to thank NMC for giving her the chance to continue her studies while working. She earned her A.A. in Accounting after seven years of working and studying. She is now pursuing B.A. in Accounting with the University of Guam but offered at NMC.

Under its Law Enforcement Administration Department, she named Clyde Norita, officer in charge of the Office of Special Programs of the Department of Public Safety, and police officer Andrea Ozawa.

As the new occupants of the former Dr. Torres Hospital, NMC started with $45,000 funding in 1983.

“From the initial legislative appropriation of $45,000 in 1983, legislative appropriations have increased to this year’s amount of $7.8 million,” she said.

For Public Law 5-32, funding doubled over the 12 years. When funding started in 1988, NMC received $600,000. This fiscal year, $1.3 million was extended to the college. Federal help also started in the mid-80’s to support its local funding.

In closing, she unveiled NMC’s Master Plan for the future which will prepare students compete in seeking employment opportunities.

Her one-hour report received a standing ovation and loud applause from the audience of mostly NMC employees. Most members of both Legislative Houses came to hear the first NMC report. However, the audience missed the presence of Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio and HEW Chairman Heinz Hofschneider.