NMC posts 122 potential graduates for Spring ‘09

The Northern Marianas College has so far recorded 122 potential graduates for the Spring semester and the number may increase in coming days until all petitions are submitted to the college’s Office of Admissions and Records.

The figure was the total number of petitions received by the college as of yesterday.

A breakdown of the number indicated that the associate degree in liberal arts got the highest petition of 31, followed by the associate degree in elementary education, which recorded 29 potential graduates in May.

Other graduates by degree and certificate program include:

-associate in nursing, 20;

-certificate of completion in early childhood education, 13;

-associate in applied science in business management, 10;

-accounting, 6;

-criminal justice, 4;

-business, 2;

-computer application, 2;

-achievement in construction trades, 2;

-hospitality management, 2; and

-certificate of completion in related services, 1.

NMC president Carmen Fernandez said the college is extremely proud of this year’s potential batch of graduates.

“The NMC family is extremely proud of the students who will be graduating in May. They have worked so hard and have made so many sacrifices to accomplish their educational goals,” she said.

Fernandez vowed to assist the graduates in their search for jobs or to further their education in higher universities.

“We will be working with each graduate to provide them with whatever assistance they need for their transition to full time jobs, or for some, a transition into a four-year university,” said Fernandez, adding that she looks forward to joining the graduates and their families at the graduation ceremony.

She expressed hope that the new graduates will be active members of the NMC Alumni Association.

Saipan Tribune was told that the final number of graduates will be known by next month.

NMC expects 21 potential honor students to be recognized in May.

From the associate degree, seven will be awarded the cum laude honor or those who have at least a 3.5-3.74 GPA; 7 magna cum laudes or those who maintained 3.75-3.95 GPA; and 7 summa cum laudes, or those with outstanding mark of 3.96-4.0 grade point average.

For the bachelor’s degree, NMC will name 12 cum laudes and nine magna cum laudes.

To ensure the smooth conduct of the commencement rites, the graduating class will be forming a committee that will be tasked with organizing the venue and selecting student leadership recipients, of whom one will be named each from BS and AA degrees.

The committee, Saipan Tribune learned, is also tasked to select the keynote speaker for the event. Last year, the rite was keynoted by Bank of Guam president and board chair Lourdes Leon Guerrero.

“The Office of Admissions and Records is doing all the work necessary to ensure that graduating students meet the criteria necessary to graduate,” the office said, adding that graduating students have already begun ordering their caps and gowns and other materials they will need for their graduation ceremony.