RHS valedictorian denied scholarship award

The family of a new graduate of Rota High School is seeking help with the situation of their daughter, Katelyn M. Alpino, who was denied scholarship assistance despite graduating from high school with the highest academic honor as its class valedictorian.

Alpino is now enrolled at Philadelpia University for a pre-medicine course. His father, Arthur Alpino, said that Katelyn went ahead with plans to study in the U.S. mainland, confident that she would qualify for the Honors Scholarship Awards provided by the government through the CNMI Scholarship Program.

But to the family’s surprise, Katelyn’s application was denied, with the CNMI Scholarship Office saying that she did not met the required grade point average. Adding to their surprise was finding out that Rota High School’s salutatorian and third honor awardees were selected for the scholarship grant.

Saipan Tribune learned that the Scholarship Office investigated the matter following the appeal of Alpino’s family. Their findings, however, showed that Katelyn’s GPA was actually lower than the two other honor students in her batch—adding a curious twist to the situation.

Mr. Alpino, on behalf of his daughter, filed a complaint with the office of Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan on Aug. 26, seeking clarification about the records and grades of his daughter. He clarified that the family is not blaming the Scholarship Office, which they believe conducted a proper investigation and assessment.

“We have sent our daughter to the mainland for her college education with the hope that she had attained this honor scholarship grant. My daughter was crying upon learning this and is still depressed by this unfavorable condition,” said Alpino in his grievance letter to Sablan.

In an interview Friday, Alpino said they were also confused when the Scholarship Office informed them the class salutatorian and the third honor students were the ones selected for the Honors Scholarship Awards.

Since that Aug. 26 filing, Mr. Alpino said it was only on Sept. 9 when a PSS personnel came to Rota to work on the grievance. The PSS personnel promised to respond by Monday, Sept. 12, but that did not happen.

“We didn’t receive any response or words from PSS. We even sent follow-up emails and tried to call them but we failed to get a word. Our daughter is suffering now and we want to know why this is happening. For me, it is insane and ridiculous that my daughter who graduated valedictorian has a lower GPA than the second and third highest students in her batch,” Mr. Alpino said, alleging that some “manipulation, if not error” may have happened to discredit his daughter.

PSS recently appointed Charley Kenty as its equal employment opportunity officer, which handles complaints and grievances as delegated by the commissioner. Kenty was not available when contacted by Saipan Tribune Friday and failed to return calls. Saipan Tribune learned that Kenty assigned a staffer to review the grievance and investigate Alpino’s case. The PSS report, according to Mr. Alpino, was expected on Sept. 12 but has not been released yet.

With nowhere else to turn to, Alpino’s family wrote Thursday to Sen. Juan Ayuyu, the Rota legislative delegation chairman, to seek his help. Mr. Alpino said that, without the scholarship award, it will be difficult for his family to continue sending Katelyn to college.

“Please help us. We feel that we are deprived and neglected. We can’t wait anymore,” Mr. Alpino told the senator in his letter.