Ha, Cabrera top MCS commencement exercise

Mount Carmel School held its 12th grade commencement exercise at the Mt. Carmel Cathedral on June 12, with Soo Ji Ha named as the class Valedictorian and Letitia W. Cabrera as Salutatorian.

Ha, 18, the daughter of Soojeong Ku and Young Soo Ha, also received the Presidential Award for Meritorious Service.

“I was very astonished and it was really hard because I had stiff competition at our school,” said Ha, a consistent honor student.

Before MCS, Ha attended Saipan Community School during her junior high school years, where she also received the Valedictorian award. She also bagged several honors in elementary.

In school, she was involved in the mock trial tournament, Junior Statesmen of America, beach cleanups, the National Honor Society, the Drama Club and the American Red Cross.

She intends to go to the University of Michigan where she plans to major in International Relations, saying she wants to be a diplomat or lawyer.

She plans to return to Saipan after her studies because her families are residents of the island. “I would really want to keep in contact with all of my former teachers and classmates,” she added.

Salutatorian Letitia W. Cabrera is the daughter of Queenie and Jose Cabrera.

“Although I am happy that we will have a better future, and hopefully come back and make the CNMI a better place,” said Cabrera, “I feel kind of sad because of the fact that we will be going our separate ways, it’s hard to lose some close friends.”

“My life in high school was special, promising, eventful, and so much more,” she added. She wishes the rest of the graduating class good luck in their future endeavors.

In school, Cabrera was active with the Debate Club, Mock Trial, Junior Statesmen of America, National Honor Society, and Theatre Club.

Cabrera plans to go to Washington, D.C. and attend the Elliot School of International Affairs in George Washington University. She wants to work as a diplomat or negotiator in the future.

The Bishop Tomas Camacho Christian Service Award was conferred on Claire Dina Cabrera, while the Governor’s Leadership Award went to Ruby Ann Venus.

The keynote speaker for the event was lawyer Janet King of the Public Defender’s Office and a Northern Marianas College regent.

This year’s graduating class was composed of 36 students, who chose At the Beginning as their graduation song.

“You [graduates] have given my life meaning and purpose,” said principal Galvin Deleon Guerrero during his closing remarks. “You are ready, and you’ve been ready to set out on your own.”
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English Language Arts Ruby Ann Venus
Honorable Mention Letitia Cabrera

Science Ruby Ann Venus
Honorable Mention Hanna Hofschneider

Mathematics Soo Ji Ha
Honorable Mention Kevin Scott Sablan

Social Studies Soo Ji Ha
Honorable Mention Letitia Cabrera

Theology Claire Dina Cabrera
Honorable Mention Letitia Cabrera

Fine Arts Letitia Cabrera
Honorable Mention Ruby Ann Venus

Foreign Language (Japanese) Hee Yong Yoon
Honorable Mention Mi Ran Lee

Speech Ruby Ann Venus
Honorable Mention Soo Ji Ha

Drama Letitia Cabrera
Honorable Mention Ruby Ann Venus

Physical Education
Male Kristian Daniel Aquino
Female Chanelle Manglona