Mt. Carmel recognizes 4 Parents of the Year

From left, Annie Cepeda, representing her father Joaquin Cepeda, James Reyes, Evangeline Villar, and Chiharu Sato were named as Mount Carmel School’s 2015 Parents of the Year. (Thomas A. Manglona II)

Concluding its weeklong celebration of Catholic Schools Week, Mount Carmel School recognized its Parents of the Year for their outstanding volunteerism and commitment to the students, faculty, and staff. Unlike previous years, four parents were recognized last Friday during the school’s Family Night.

James P. Reyes, Joaquin Cepeda, Chiharu Sato, and Evangeline Villar were recognized as the sole school’s 2015 Parents of the Year.

“It is very fitting that we wrap up our celebration with Family Night. MCS is really a family. We could not function without our parent volunteers,” school president Galvin Deleon Guerrero said in his remarks. “They give their time and resources and love and heart to the school.”

Guerrero noted that one of the hardest jobs at the school isn’t teaching or cleaning—it’s directing traffic.

James Reyes was recognized for his efforts in directing traffic after school dismissal.

Reyes told Saipan Tribune that he “just wants to help and encourage other parents to do the same.”

“I think it is a responsibility to volunteer,” he added.

Annie Cepeda received the award on behalf of her father, who assists Reyes in after-school traffic directing. The Mount Carmel senior said she is elated that her father is being recognized. “I am happy that he is giving back to the school that I spent so many years in,” she said.

Volunteer parent coach Chiharu Sato has brought her skill and passion for sports to the Mount Carmel family. Sato can be found on campus during weekends coaching the school’s athletic teams for hours. She said, “Watching students enjoy playing sports is a great joy.”

Evangeline Villar spends eight hours twice a week at Mount Carmel’s library organizing books and allowing students to utilize the resources that would otherwise be unavailable to them.

She said she is blessed to have the time to serve the students and the school and vows to work even harder to make sure the library is a safe and quiet sanctuary for students to study.

“It inspires me to also see students who really want to learn and read and spend their time in the library. It makes me want to do an even better job.”

Student Council president Andrea Lazaro said families are the backbone of the school community.

“I think that the Parents of the Year truly deserve the recognition. They show their commitment to the school through service and that’s really admirable,” she said.