By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THE commonwealth’s oldest high school received a significant amount of assistance from a bank.
Marianas High School principal Karen Borja received a check for $50,000 on Friday from First Hawaiian Bank officials during a ceremony on campus.
The money will be used to renovate classrooms and procure much needed furniture for students.
MHS, which has over 1,200 students, is among the public schools with dilapidated buildings and equipment.
“I am truly overwhelmed by the generosity of First Hawaiian Bank and their willingness to invest in the future of our students,” Borja said. “It takes a whole community to educate a child, and the bank is truly showing its commitment by this significant donation,” she said, adding that MHS students have been sitting at broken desks in classrooms that are in need of repair.
Also attending the ceremony were Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, Education Commissioner David Borja, First Hawaiian Bank president and chief executive officer Don Horner and bank area manager Juan Lizama.
“This is in the spirit of community cooperation and support,” the governor said. “We’re very thankful that some in the private sector are stepping up to render assistance and support the community…especially our schools.”
Firial said the amount is the largest monetary assistance provided by a private group to a school this year.
The First Hawaiian Bank will also start an education fund for the benefit of all public schools on Saipan.
For every product or service sold at the two First Hawaiian branches on Saipan between May 7, 2007 and Dec. 31, 2007, the bank will contribute $1 to the “One Team Education Fund.”
In early January next year, the money will be divided up among the various public schools on Saipan and go to those projects that meet the greatest need in the schools.
“Supporting education and our young people is one of the bank’s priorities,” Horner said in a statement, adding that they are pleased to invest in the children of Saipan and the CNMI.
Lizama, an MHS alumni, said the “contribution is particularly special to me since I know firsthand the great benefit it will bring (to the school).”
First Hawaiian Bank is one of the largest banks in Micronesia with two branches on Saipan and three on Guam. The bank has total assets of over $12 billion.