PTI helped connect Tinian’s Untalan during conventions

PTI teamed up with the pride of Tinian High School to help put the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas on the map in a big way when Junior Statesman Marisa Untalan attended both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.

Sixteen-year-old Untalan applied for a summer school scholarship at Stanford University and was subsequently accepted at the end of 2007. When she left for the U.S. mainland this summer, Untalan was able to include trips to Denver, Colorado, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, to attend both of conventions.

While enjoying her scholarship, Untalan kept in contact with friends and family back home on Tinian with a cellular phone and long distance cards provided by PTI, but the CNMI’s youngest delegate to the conventions also played a larger role when calling the Marianas.

Untalan used her PTI phone and long distance cards to call into KSPN2 and gave live reports from the conventions that gave the CNMI’s citizens a firsthand account of all of the election season action.

“It was a new experience and I’m glad I got the chance to do it,” said Untalan.

Untalan said that she was able to meet with many Washington VIPs including former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee (R) and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney (R), as well as with her peers from the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and the mainland.

Her father and mother, John and Gladyz Untalan, were very proud of their daughter’s ambition. They said they know Marisa enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime experience and thanked PTI for providing the phone and the airtime that made it possible.

“It’s fantastic and we’re so proud of her and we really appreciate that PTI allowed her to have this opportunity. It was kind of a big request but we thought we’d give it a try. We’re very thankful to PTI and it’s a great community service that you gave to our daughter and we really appreciate it,” said John Untalan.

PTI regional marketing manager Kathryn Barry said that the donation was part of PTI’s longstanding commitment to the youth of the CNMI.

“PTI is always happy to support a student as hardworking and as driven as Marisa. When her family approached us with her idea to report on the conventions it was an easy decision. She did a wonderful job and we’re all proud of her accomplishments,” she said. [B][I](PTI)[/I][/B]