Tenorio is SI-NMI’s Live Your Dream awardee for 2014

From left to right Soroptimist International NMI treasurer Teresa Palacios, president Jill Arenovski, vice president Donna Krum, Live Your Dream recipient Lucille P. Tenorio, secretary Shelly Scott, and treasurer-elect Merle Hudkins. (Contributed Photo)

A check for $1,000 was awarded to Lucille P. Tenorio, this year’s winner of the Live Your Dream award granted by the Soroptimist International of Northern Mariana Islands club on Saipan. The event was held at the Nami Lounge of Kanoa Resort on Saturday evening, Oct. 25, and was hosted by Gallo Wines and Dickerson & Quinn. All proceeds benefited the SI-NMI club, whose main mission is to empower women through education. Tenorio’s application will now advance to the Soroptimist Founder Region level, where recipients can receive up to an additional $5,000.

Tenorio has three children (ages 13 years, 6 years, and 4 months old), is divorced, and is working toward her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with emphasis in Rehabilitation in Human Services.  She wants to advocate to single mothers that it is never too late to get an education.

Seven applicants applied for this award, and judging was conducted by non-Soroptimist volunteers in accordance with the criteria set by Soroptimist International of the Americas.  All applicants met three criteria:  1) they are women, 2) they are currently attending college, and 3) they are the financial head of their household.  This was the second annual Live Your Dream award (formerly the Women’s Opportunity Award) for the recently chartered local SI-NMI club. This inspiring celebration was attended by club members, applicants, and other women from the island community.

The evening showcased two speakers.  The first was Sylvia Crafton, a veteran of Soroptimist International of the Marianas (one of the two Guam clubs). Crafton has been a Soroptimist for 23 years and gave members tips on how to grow a successful club and how to empower women in the local community. Crafton quoted actress Nicole Kidman, who serves as a spokeswoman for Unifem and put it best when she said, “If you help women, you help children and men. You help the family, because women are the heartbeat of the family.”

Last year’s award winner, Le’ah Murphy, gave an emotional speech about how the $1,000 she received helped her get through a very hard time at the end of her college education. She didn’t give up and is now scheduled to head out and join the military so that she can further her education in the field of medicine. Her future is bright, and she is empowered and determined to make a better life for herself and her two girls.

Other SI-NMI projects include helping the residents of Guma Esperansa, the women’s shelter, and speaking to high school students about persisting in the path to higher education and to a career.  SI-NMI extends its sincere gratitude to Gallo Wines, Dickerson & Quinn, Kanoa Resort, Java Bakery and Creative Dreams for their generous donations to this event.

For more information on Soroptimist International of Northern Mariana Islands club, e-mail sinorthernmarianaislands@soroptimist.net or call 287-9395. (SI-NMI)