TINIAN — On Feb. 17 and 18, the island held its annual Hot Pepper Festival at Tachogna Beach.
The festival is an island-style celebration showcasing local food and drinks, arts and crafts, cultural dances and various competitions open to the public.
Northern Marianas College-Tinian and the Associated Student Body of NMC Tinian had a booth of their own and participated in various activities such as talaya throwing, the hot pepper eating contest, canoe/kayak racing, karaoke, beach volleyball, the umang race, the katdun pika cooking contest, and many others.
ASBNMC president Matt Blanco co-hosted the event.
According to Jersilyn King, ASBNMC senator, the event was “hot and fun” with “numerous activities.”
Monetary prizes were at stake in the competitions.
NMC students, including those with the Student Support Services Program, participated in this special event, which was surely a “memorable” day for them.
NMC students won third place in canoe/kayak rowing contest, placed third in volleyball, and donated their winnings to the ASBNMC account.
Individual winners included Isabel Lazaro, ASBNMC secretary, winning second place in karaoke, and Merrill Ayuyu, ASBNMC vice president, who placed third.
Merril Ayuyu won first place in talaya throwing, and NMC-Tinian student Reggie Ayuyu finished third.
Other officers and senators of the ASBNMC include treasurer Elena Maoile, Ofemia Khan, JJ Reyes and Tasha Sanchez.
This year, the Associated Student Body has also been very active in the community and had been promoting NMC as an institution of choice.