ESFDB holds eighth grade promotion ceremony

Junior high school can be like a ship. When students first come on board, they have to learn the ropes. Over the years, they have to brave some storms. Eventually, they have to disembark and take on new challenges, which is exactly what four students at Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja did Friday, May 23, 2014.

“Strength for the Journey” is this year’s Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja Junior High graduation theme.

Valedictorian Angelica S. Lucero adopted the similarity of a boat metaphor during her address to the graduating ESFDB Eighth Grade Class of 2014.

Lucero remembered and elaborated on some of the storms she and her classmates endured during their elementary and junior high school years. She recalled that during their eighth grade year, one of her classmates had to relocate to Saipan. They had been together for the past eight years and did not graduate with them at ESFDB.

Salutatorian Metka Mendiola also praised the class’s ability to work through hard times and praised the teachers for molding them and preparing them for high school.

Before the distribution of their diplomas, eighth grade adviser Edward Maratita Jr. presented the candidates for graduation to administrator/principal Carmen H. Atalig.

Atalig accepted the candidates for graduation and applause and cheers from the audience ensued. The graduates threw their caps in the air as a symbol of celebration for accomplishing junior high.

After each student received their diploma, they were allowed to move their tassels from the left to the right side of their cap, to signify the completion of junior high school.

The eighth grade graduating class was composed of Loreville DlC. Clitar, Marnecia Hope B. Hocog, Angelica S. Lucero, and Metka C. Mendiola.

Special awards were handed out to the following students:

Marnecia Hope B. Hocog: Athletic Award.

Loreville DlC. Clitar: Presidential Award (Silver) and Athletic Award.

Angelica S. Lucero: Msgr. Louis Antonelli Award, Knights of the Altar Award, Leadership Award, Presidential Award (Gold), Athletic Award, and subjects award in Language Arts, Religion, Science, and Social Studies.

Rota Mayor Melchor Mendiola and Rota first lady Estrella Mendiola, Rev. Fr. Charlie Borja, Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja board members, PTO officers, administration, faculty and staff pose with the graduates. (Contributed Photo)

CNMI Public School System board member Denise Tanya King highlighted the day as the keynote speaker for the graduating class.

King is a parent of a successful ESFDB alumni, Samantha King Sablan, who graduated salutatorian in 1998. Sablan now runs a successful business in Guam.

King knows the hardship and success of sending a child to a Catholic school. She knows and understands how parents feel. And because she is very supportive of ESFDB, she provided a scholarship in the name of her granddaughter, called the Matea Grace King Sablan Scholarship. (ESFDB)