Some 350 CNMI students join in 18 years

Top high school students wanting to study this summer at any of four prestigious universities in the mainland including Stanford, Princeton, Yale, and Georgetown are urged to apply for full scholarships being offered by the U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs.

For 18 years now, some 350 outstanding high school students from the CNMI have attended the Junior Statesmen Summer School through full tuition and transportation scholarships offered by OIA.

OIA said that 338 students from Guam and 164 from Palau, along with those from the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa, have also attended the Junior Statesmen Summer School.

Jessica Brow, associate director of the Junior Statesmen Summer Programs, yesterday announced that three full scholarships for CNMI students in grades 10 and 11 are being offered by OIA for this summer.

Brow, one of the guest speakers at yesterday’s Rotary Club of Saipan meeting at Hyatt Regency, said the scholarships cover all tuition costs and roundtrip transportation to the summer school of the student’s choice.

The deadline for scholarship application is on March 6 for the CNMI and Guam.

Tuition, which covers all academic expenses, housing and meals for the month, is $4,695 at Princeton and Georgetown, and $4,395 at Yale and Stanford. Transportation to the school is not included in the tuition.

OIA, in a statement, said CNMI students who do not win an Interior scholarship should not give up hope.

“For many years, the CNMI government has very generously allocated scholarship funds to help defray costs and assist students to be able to attend the program,” it said.

The Junior Statesmen Summer School offers a challenging, dynamic academic experience to students who have a passion for politics and government. Students take college-level courses in American government and speech, while developing and polishing their leadership skills.

Highlighting each summer school session is a high-level speakers program that gives students a chance to meet and question legislators, other elected officials, judges, reporters, political campaign consultants, and others in stateside and federal political arena.

In recent years, summer school students have met and questioned President Obama, former presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush, former vice president Dick Cheney, and current Vice President Joe Biden.

According to OIA, each night, summer school students debate controversial issues in a simulation of the U.S. Congress.

Admission to the Junior Statesmen Summer School is competitive. Admission decisions are based on an applicant’s academic achievement, leadership, and interest in politics or government.

“Students getting A’s in English and Social Sciences, with good essay and strong interest in politics and have involvement in the community are good candidates [for scholarship],” Brow told Saipan Tribune.

To apply, students must submit a copy of their high school grades, a three-page personal essay, and a letter of recommendation from a counselor or teacher.

During her stay on Saipan, Brow can be reached at the Summer Holiday Hotel at 234 3182 or via e-mail at jbrow@jsa.org. Students can also contact OIA field representative Jeff Schorr at 234 8861.

Brow will be visiting high schools on Saipan and Tinian to help recruit outstanding students for the summer school and OIA scholarship.

Today, Brow will be visiting Grace Christian Academy, Saipan International School, and Mt. Carmel High School juniors.

On Thursday morning, Brow will be meeting with Mt. Carmel High School sophomores and Kagman High School.

In the afternoon of Thursday, she will be visiting Tinian High School.

On Friday, she will be at Saipan Southern High School, Marianas Baptist Academy, Northern Marianas Academy, and Marianas High School.