NMC students receive ’12 Business Woman of the Year scholarship

First Hawaiian Bank and Guam Business Magazine recognized the outstanding achievements of six Northern Marianas College students by awarding them scholarships valued at $10,885 in a ceremony at the bank’s Gualo Rai branch last Thursday.

The scholarship is part of the Businesswoman of the Year Award program aimed at promoting higher education through financial assistance for college students pursuing professional careers at the NMC, the University of Guam, and Guam Community College.

The Saipan recipients for the 2012 scholarship awards were Nazario-Omar P. Ajoste and Jatanna P. Cabrera, who were awarded $1,640 each; Marie Luise L. Del Carmen and Kathleen D. Laurio, who each received $1,735; Alvijane F. Manabat, $2,115; and Anne Julia P. Padilla, $2,020.

“I’m proud that I was selected as one of the recipients,” said accounting student Manabat, 19, who has two other scholarships that help her financially. “Now I don’t’ have to worry about paying my tuition.”

Laurio, who is taking up a business course with emphasis on computer applications, said she was confident that she will be chosen for the scholarship program. “You can’t doubt yourself all the time. I’m pretty glad that I got it because this would help a lot in my academic costs since I attended college.”

Twenty-year-old Anne Padilla revealed that this is her second time to win the scholarship. “I’m glad that I took this opportunity because there’s not much opportunities in a place like this. I’m glad that FHB and Guam Business Magazine are helping out the community, considering the economic downturn we’re suffering right now.”

Padilla advised other students to grab every opportunity that comes their way, even if it means having to lose at one point. “One of my teachers taught me that adversity creates character and I always live by that phrase.”

Two more students from Guam also received scholarship funds worth $4,820 in a separate presentation on March 16. This brings the total amount of scholarships awarded for academic year 2011 to 2012 to $32,085.

All scholarships were awarded based on the students’ total number of credit hours enrolled in the fall semester, their grades, involvement in the community, and potential to become successful businesspeople. They were also required to submit a written essay and evidence of financial need.

Laura-Lynn V. Dacanay, FHB senior vice president and region manager for Guam and CNMI, said this is the 7th year of the Business Woman of the Year program which gets its funding from the annual fundraising gala.

“For this semester, we got six students from Saipan and we’re so proud of that,” she added.

Guam Business Magazine publisher Maureen Maratita, for her part, said they are pleased to have helped students for two semesters this academic year “and we hope it’s a tradition we’re going to continue.”

According to NMC president Sharon Hart, 80 percent of their students are able to afford their education through the scholarships they receive.

“This could really make the difference in our students’ lives and so we thank the business community for coming together to help these students who make all of us very proud,” said Hart.

Acting governor Eloy S. Inos, who also attended Thursday’s ceremony, congratulated the students and advised them to study hard and consider the scholarship as “a blessing” since financial resources for education purposes are “hard to come by” at this time.

“To the business community, thank you for taking this opportunity to contribute to a good cause. I do hope you will continue to support the education of our children because they are our future leaders,” added Inos.