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2 ‘technical’ students get Chamber scholarships
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Posted on May 06 2009
Two students of the Marianas Trades Institute were named as new scholars of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce during its regular meeting yesterday.
Luis Pedro J. Arriola and Kevin A. Yamagata were each awarded $1,500 scholarship grant, to be directly provided to the institute for the completion of their chosen technical course.
Arriola, 18, who is currently in the second phase of his plumbing course, was elated with the Chamber’s decision.
“It’s a good feeling when you know that despite the economic hardship, there is a group of people who is willing to help. With this scholarship, there’s no doubt I could complete the program on time,” he told Saipan Tribune yesterday.
Arriola graduated last year from Saipan Southern High School. He has completed the institute’s core curriculum and is currently enrolled in its plumbing program.
Arriola, who hopes to complete the program by next year, wants to become an entrepreneur.
Kevin Yamagata, a graduate of Mount Carmel School, has completed the institute’s core curriculum and is now on the second phase of the electrical curriculum.
“I am so honored to be given this scholarship. It would further enhance my technical skills,” he told the crowd.
Marianas Trades Institute director Vic Cepeda expressed the school’s gratitude to the Chamber for letting the institute’s students compete for the grants.
MTI, he said, is also attracting students who had earlier dropped out from high school.
At present, the school has a total of 140 students enrolled in various technical curriculums such as plumbing, cooking, auto mechanic, sewing, electrical, and carpentry.
According to Kathryn Barry, chairperson of the Chamber’s education committee, the $3,000 total scholarship grants are funded through events such as the Corporate Challenge, golf tournament, and the Installation Dinner silent auction.
She said the two scholarships are in addition to the Chamber’s scholarships for college-bound high school seniors, which will be awarded next month.
