Previous Story
Apatang swears in five-member SHEFA board
»Oscar Babauta is new SHEFA chair
From left, Saipan Mayor’s Office special assistant Henry Hofschneider, SHEFA administrator Merissa Rasa, SHEFA board member Ursula Aldan, SHEFA chair Oscar Babauta, Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, SHEFA board member Jose Mafnas, SHEFA secretary/treasurer Ray Muna and his wife, and SHEFA vice chair Juan “Shine” Tenorio pose in a group photo after the SHEFA board was sworn in last Thursday. (Jayson Camacho)
Mayor David M. Apatang swore in five board members to the Saipan Higher Education Assistance Program last Thursday at the Saipan Mayor’s Offic at the Ladera Center in San Jose.
Board members that were sworn in were newly elected board member and now SHEFA chair Oscar Babauta, newly elected board member and secretary/treasurer Ray Muna, vice chair Juan “Shine” Tenorio, Ursula Aldan, and Jose Mafnas.
After being sworn in, Babauta told Apatang they have already elected their board members early Thursday morning in their first board meeting since April 2015.
Also after being sworn in, board members discussed issues that would help the Saipan Mayor’s Office and SHEFA work more closely such as moving the SHEFA offices to the Ladera Center next to Apatang’s office, working on funding through the local delegation, and other matters.
“We’ve a lot of visions ahead for our office such as our policies that need to be changed and revisit the solution to address our management and staff. Other details will be discussed in the next board meeting and we hope that Apatang attends,” Babauta said.
“I’d like to thank Apatang’s office and the former mayors that consistently provided assistance to SHEFA. We can only ask to continue the working relationship and our desire to provide assistance to our students,” he added.
Apatang said that he has confidence in SHEFA’s newly sworn in board.
“As board members I know they do their best for our students and give them the opportunity to go further. Some of them are returning members. My office is open to the SHEFA board and if they have any assistance they are more than welcome to call us and request assistance,” he said.
“We’re ready to help SHEFA relocate near our office,” Apatang added.
Babauta said that he and other board members are more than willing to put their best foot forward in upgrading programs for SHEFA.
