College Board recognizes MCS student Aleia Santos

The National College Board recently recognized Mount Carmel School senior Aleia Hofschneider Santos as an awardee for the College Board National Recognition Program. The College Board said that Santos received the Indigenous Recognition Award and the National Rural and Small Town Recognition Award based on her exemplary examination scores for the PSAT and Advanced Placement courses.

The College Board National Recognition Program is designed to aid underrepresented students who have demonstrated high academic achievement in PSAT/NMSQT, the PSAT 10, or AP Exams. The program is also meant to create pathways for students by awarding them academic honors and connecting them with universities across the United States.

Santos is an MCS senior and the current Student Council secretary. She is set to graduate on June 4, 2022. Throughout her high school career, Santos has participated in various extra-curricular activities including Art Club, Eco-Club, Mock Trial, the National Honor Society, and Theatre Club. In addition to her extensive involvement as a student leader, Santos is also an honors student, having completed various Advanced Placement, or AP, courses, which include AP Computer Science-A, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Government, AP U.S. History, and AP Literature.

Santos

At this time, Santos has gained admission to Oregon State University, Portland State University, and Washington State University, but is awaiting final admission letters from Columbia University, Swarthmore University, University of California Berkeley, University of Southern California, University of California Irvine, the University of Washington, and Washington University in St. Louis.

As she prepares for college, Santos has remained steadfast in her ambition to study the sciences and pursue a major in public health, biology, or neuroscience and become a physician assistant. It is Santos’ current intention to come back to the CNMI and give back to her community as a future healthcare professional.

“My parents always taught me that giving back is ultimately what we are called to do in our lives. They’ve taught me that our gifts and talents may belong to us, but they are really meant to serve and uplift others,” Santos stated. When asked why she wants to become a physician assistant, she explained she chose this career path because of the versatility the position allows and the impact she can make in this field.

As Santos reflects on her experience at Mount Carmel School, she shared her appreciation for all the members of her school community who supported her efforts to grow as a student leader. “When I first came to Mount Carmel School, I honestly didn’t like it at all. I had spent a significant amount of time in the states and I was somewhat of an Army brat so assimilating to the culture at MCS was difficult for me. Over time, I realized how much support I had at Mount Carmel School to succeed and all I had to do was reach out for help and be transparent about my struggles with lessons or assignments. As my senior year comes to an end, there are so many people I would like to thank, but at this time I would just like to say thank you to my family, my teachers, and the amazing friends I’ve made along the way.”

Mount Carmel School’s acting president Frances Taimanao commends Santos on this achievement and shares her own confidence in Santos’ continued success. “This comes as no surprise that Aleia, along with her peers, are recognized for these awards. Throughout her time at Mount Carmel School, Aleia has grown so much as a student leader and has helped create significant student programs such as the ‘Convenience Corners’ and has coordinated various mental wellness activities to support her student body during this pandemic. I look forward to Aleia’s next steps as a future healthcare professional,” Taimanao said.

For more information about Mount Carmel School and her college preparatory programs, visit www.mountcarmelsaipan.com. (MCS)