SSHS Interact inducts new leadership

Incoming and outgoing Saipan Southern High School Interact officers, along with club members, pose with Rotary Club of Saipan president Wendell Posadas, Rotary Club of Saipan’s New Generations Youth Service director Gregory Borja, and SHSS Interact Club advisor and Rotaract vice president Genelin Camacho for a picture after the induction of SHSS Interact 2023-24 officers during a short ceremony at the Sugar Dock in Susupe last Saturday.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Saipan Southern High Interact club bid farewell to their outgoing leaders and welcomed their new leadership last Saturday during a small ceremony at the Sugar Dock in Susupe.

The club’s incoming members are Kayla Yi as president; Endymion San Nicolas taking the role of vice president; Bristhy Hossain as secretary, treasurer and historian; Shawn Salas as sergeant-at-arms; and Lydia Salas as the Community Service director. As she was off island, Yi was not able to make it to the induction, but San Nicolas shared with Saipan Tribune his remarks. “Coming in as new VP is honestly new to me because I’ve never been a high officer before…” he said, but added that he is also excited to serve. “…I’m looking forward to helping the Interact club get better as the year goes on, and maybe more events to come.”

Outgoing president Jessie Lynn Reyes said she is grateful not only for the opportunity, but also for those members who not only joined them for the ceremony that morning but have been with the club throughout the year.

They had a lot of active members at the beginning, Reyes said, but several have dropped out as the school year passed and so she is grateful to those that did stay and their dedication to the cause.

According to Reyes, a little more than half of the current Interact team are also a part of SHSS’ 2023 graduates, leaving behind 10 to 15 members who will carry on. She said Interact members would have to work hard this upcoming year, but she is confident that the club is in good hands.

Among the club’s many efforts this past school year include their recent adoption of a bus stop in Dandan, and their back-to-school bash, and other fundraisers. Reyes said her most favorite memory was their Christmas drive, where they donated clothes and bags of goodies. “That…really helped me in building my leadership skills and getting to know everyone in the club,” she said.

She said joining Interact is ideal for students who want to slowly get into more clubs in school. Since Interact is the start of the journey toward becoming a Rotaract and leading on to the Rotary Club, “you can really keep going with the life of Rotary and Interact and service above self.”

Reyes noted that she’ll be heading off to college soon, and she would also be looking into opportunities to join a Rotaract club.