MVP contest names 4 winners

A Saipan elementary school, a private citizen on Tinian, a Saipan restaurant, and the Tinian Mayor’s Office were named yesterday as the winners of the Marianas Village Pride Christmas Decorating Contest of the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisers, winning fir themselves various prizes valued at $1,000 each.

Kagman Elementary School on Saipan won the award for Most Festive School, while Tinian resident Laila Macaranas was recognized with the Most Festive Home award. The Most Festive Business award went to Savory Bistro Café on Saipan, while the Tinian Mayor’s Office on Tinian won the Most Festive Village plum.

A total of 19 schools, residents, businesses, and villages competed in the four categories during the holiday season to win prizes geared toward reinvestment in their homes, buildings, and schools. 

As its prize, Kagman Elementary School won sports equipment valued at $1,000, while Macaranas won hardware store credit valued at $1,000. Savory Bistro Café won paint store credit valued at $1,000 and the Tinian Mayor’s Office won village basketball court improvements valued at $1,000.

“We thank our community for participating in the first MVP Christmas Decorating Contest,” said Jerry Tan, co-chairman of the GCEA. “Each entrant committed to cleaning up in and around their homes, schools, and buildings while providing our community enjoyable and festive displays during the holidays. This is a wonderful example of how every resident, school, and business can improve the quality of life at the village level. Together, We Can!”

Photos of the winning entries can be viewed on GCEA’s Facebook page (@cnmigov.economy). Prizes will be awarded on March 31 during an MVP ceremony.

GCEA extends a si yu’us ma’åse’ and ghilisow to all participants who entered the contest. 

Bus Stop Decorating Contest launched
GCEA invites schools, families, groups, and businesses to sign up to beautify, design, and paint bus stops throughout Rota, Tinian, and Saipan while competing for prizes. Entrants are encouraged to highlight the colors and icons that best represent the village or school’s colors, mascots, recognizable landmarks, and unique features.

“We are taking Marianas pride to a creative level with the launch of GCEA’s MVP Bus Stop Beautification contest,” Tan said. “We welcome groups throughout the Marianas to sign up to adopt a bus stop in their villages. This is the perfect time to showcase the unique beauty of each village or school, plus it will make the bus stops cleaner, safer, and more enjoyable for our children.”

GCEA aims to beautify more than 20 bus stops on Saipan, four on Rota, and three on Tinian by the end of the contest period. Registration is open at cnmieconomy.com. High schools that adopt a bus stop will earn points toward cash prizes at the end of the contest period. Students will also earn service hours for their participation.

Adopt-A-Median welcomes new groups for 2022 projects
GCEA welcomes groups throughout the Marianas to sign up to adopt medians in their villages. Interested groups can register online at cnmieconomy.com. 

The Adopt-A-Median program is an integral part of the GCEA’s MVP campaign and an ongoing program under the Public Private Partnership Program. GCEA is accepting registration for projects on Rota, Tinian, and Saipan. Schools, groups, families, and businesses can adopt, clean, and paint medians, sidewalks, or crosswalks in their villages. GCEA provides the paint and supplies for each activity, and the Department of Public Works supports by providing the cones and signs that help to keep volunteers safe. For the safety of the students, GCEA recommend that school groups adopt sidewalks and crosswalks around their schools.

For more information, visit cnmieconomy.com or engage with the GCEA on Facebook and Instagram (@cnmigov.economy) or by email at gceacnmi@gmail.com. (PR)