By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

NORTHERN Marianas College’s 240 students on Saipan, Rota and Tinian will receive their degrees and diplomas on Saturday as NMC holds its 27th commencement exercises at the Marianas High School gymnasium.
This year’s theme is “Knowledge: The Key to Unlock Your Potential.”
According to the college registrar, Doris Aldan Atalig, NMC and the governor will be confirring two leadership awards at the ceremony which will start at 4 p.m.
Four will receive academic achievement awards.
“This is the highest honor and we’re happy to have four recipients this year — three valedictorians from the associate program and one from the bachelor’s,” Atalig told Variety yesterday.
From the associate degree program, the valedictorians are Kevin Frank Pangelinan Camacho, liberal arts; Yang He, nursing; and Irina Anatolievna Vasina, accounting and business management. From the bachelors program, there is Linda M. Birmingham, elementary education.
The bachelor of science major in elementary education has 33 potential graduates; the associate in arts major in business, 2; international business, 1; and liberal arts, 41.
The associate in applied science business administration major in accounting has 15; business management, 22; computer applications, 3; and office technology administration, 1.
The criminal justice program will have four graduates while hospitality management has 2.
There will be 26 nursing students who will get their diplomas on Saturday.
Accounting, computer applications and hospitality management each have one graduate.
A certificate of completion will be awarded to two students in accounting; 2, business management; 3, computer applications; 1, early childhood education; 6, hemodialysis technician; 3, sales and marketing; and 24, combined law enforcement.
“The number is the total estimate and could be a little more or less depending on the results of the grade assessment and screening which we finalized today,” Atalig told Variety yesterday.
She said the 240 include adult basic education students.
Last year, NMC had 210 graduates.
Atalig said this year’s ceremony will be keynoted by Sen. Jude U. Hofschneider, R-Tinian.
There will be a rehearsal on Thursday at 3 p.m. at the gym while the baccalaureate Mass practice is set for 6 p.m. at Kristo Rai Church in Garapan.