Tinian student to attend national Democratic, GOP conventions

Marisa D. Untalan, an 11th grader at the Tinian Jr. & Sr. High School, has been honored with a full scholarship from the Junior Statesmen Foundation to attend the 2008 Democratic Presidential Symposium, which will be held in Denver, Colorado from Aug. 24 to 29, during the Democratic National Convention, and the 2008 Republican Presidential Symposium, to be held in St. Paul, Minnesota from Aug. 31 to Sept. 5,2008, during the Republican National Convention.

Untalan has just recently returned from the Junior Statesmen Foundation Stanford Summer School Program in July, where she spent five intense weeks participating in college level courses: A.P. U.S. Government & Politics, and Honors Speech Communication.

While attending the Stanford Summer School Program, Untalan learned of the upcoming Presidential Symposium. The JSA Territorial Director informed the students that the Foundation would grant each Territorial District (CNMI, Guam, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa) one full scholarship to attend this event. Knowing that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Untalan filled out the application and submitted the required essay to the JSA Foundation. She then turned her attention to her final exams and the graduation ceremonies at Stanford, and then returned home to Tinian, where to her surprise she was informed of her selection to represent the CNMI at this prestigious event.

While attending these events, Untalan hopes to learn more about what both presidential candidates are proposing for the country, to expand her views on political issues facing the United States, to experience the political process firsthand, and to be a witness to history, especially since this is the first time the CNMI is invited by JSA to join the events.

Additionally, this is the first time since 1928 when neither an incumbent president nor an incumbent vice-president is seeking the nomination for office, “which boosts up my excitement even more for the symposiums.”

Untalan admits that her five weeks at Stanford improved her writing and forensic skills that she believes assisted in her receiving this scholarship.

Untalan acknowledged Tinian Mayor Jose P. San Nicolas for his continued support and assistance to the students of Tinian, “Mayor San Nicolas always supports educational programs. He has sponsored so many different activities this year, including helping me attend Stanford Summer School and helping my classmate, Edward Hofschneider, attend Georgetown Summer School. Thank you so much Mayor San Nicolas, your help and guidance means so much to all of us students here in Tinian.”

Untalan also gives credit to her teachers and administration of the Tinian Jr. and Sr. High School “My teachers helped me in preparing for the challenge of facing Stanford professors.” “Special thanks to Mrs. Long for all her help, you’re the best!”

Untalan also gives thanks to her father, John, and stepmother Gladyliza Untalan for always being there for her.
Marisa is the eldest of six children. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]