Junior Statesman recruiter leaves Saipan after 15 years

After 15 years of recruiting the islands’ best and brightest students for the Junior Statesmen Summer Programs, Territorial Recruiter director Karen Prosser is bidding the CNMI goodbye.

Prosser, who spoke to the Rotary Club of Saipan during its weekly meeting Tuesday at the Hyatt Regency Saipan, said that this is her last recruitment activity on Saipan.

She said she is very thankful for the CNMI community and its leaders for being supportive of the Junior Statesman Summer School program for the past 15 years.

Prosser, who has been with the program for 36 years, said she would be focusing this year on working with the program’s alumni.

The recruitment director commended the Commonwealth for sending “outstanding students” every year and that she has always been impressed with the delegations from the CNMI.

“There is no place in America that sends a huge number of students [for the program],” said Prosser. “I hope the CNMI will also welcome my replacement, Sherry Carpenter.”

Prosser will be on the island until Monday, March 6. She will then visit Guam from March 7 to March 14, also to recruit outstanding students for the Summer School and Department of the Interior Scholarships.

Tomorrow, Prosser will meet with student alumni of the program, together with their parents, to revisit the children’s experiences last year. The event will be held at the Aqua Resort Club Rey Lounge. She will then meet prospective attendees for this year on Saturday at McDonald’s for orientation and to answer any questions the students and parents might have.

Currently, the U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Insular Affairs is encouraging top high school student leaders, grades 10-11, to apply for one of three full scholarships being offered by department to attend a Junior Statesmen Summer School session in the U.S. mainland.

Insular Affairs said the program would provide scholarships to cover all tuition costs and round trip transportation to the summer school of the students’ choice.

“Summer school students take exciting college level courses in American Government and Speech, while they develop and polish their leadership skills,” said the agency.

There will be monthlong sessions of the Junior Statesmen Summer School to be conducted in the prestigious university campuses of Stanford (near San Francisco), Northwestern (near Chicago), Princeton University (near New York), Yale (near New York), and Georgetown (in Washington, D.C.).

Admission to summer school is competitive. Admission decisions are based on an applicant’s academic achievement, leadership, and interest in politics or government. To apply, students submit a copy of their high school grades, a three-page personal essay, a recommendation form from a counselor or teacher and a Scholarship Application.

Tuition, which covers all academic expenses, housing and meals for the month, is $3,875. Transportation to the school is not included in the tuition.

For 15 years, DOI has offered full tuition and transportation scholarships to the Junior Statesmen Summer School to outstanding high school students in Guam, the CNMI, the Republic of Palau, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa; three scholarships per insular area.

In the past 15 years, 304 students from Guam, 285 students from the CNMI, and 148 students from the Republic of Belau have attended The Junior Statesmen Summer School.

The deadline for Republic of Palau student applications is Feb. 28, 2006; for the CNMI, application deadline is March 28; Guam application deadline is April 7. DOI scholarship decisions are made by The Junior Statesmen Summer School Admissions Committee.

For more information about Junior Statesmen Summer School and Interior Department scholarships, contact in Saipan Christi Omengabar at 285-2362, or Jeff Schorr at the Interior Office at 234-8861.