These students are Vannah Dior Hocog, Angelique Perez, and Randee Jo Barcinas.
They joined the thousands of students from the U.S, Japan, the Philippines, Guam, and Rota as prevention leaders and promoting positive activities.
The Drug Abuse Resistance Education program student body president Vannah Dior Hocog heads the famous drug and violence prevention program.
DARE is an innovative venture in the effort to fight drugs and violence in our communities and schools.
Hocog’s role and responsibility is to work alongside DARE officers, coordinators, and volunteers to show her fellow students and the people in the community the impact and consequences of drugs and violence.
In addition, Hocog was appointed Get Up and Try Something, or GUTS, student body president for school year 2008-2009.
She was the first GUTS student body president for ESFDB.
In a short span before taking over DARE, she led her fellow classmates performing cultural dances for the program and various school fundraising activities.
This talented student will soon be one of Rota’s future leaders.
Angelique Perez is the student body president of GUTS, which promotes athletic, creative, fun, and healthy form of activities to schools and communities as a positive alternative to drugs and violence.
One of the popular activities is the Jr. NBA/WNBA program.
Perez’s role and responsibility is to ensure that creative and positive activities are provided to her fellow students.
No matter what the grade levels is, the entire student body should always be playing and having fun.
Perez is the only female within the ranks of the Jr. WNBA program to be selected twice as Jr. WNBA player of the year for school years 2007-2008 and 2008-2009.
This energetic and outstanding student has a bright future ahead of her.
Randee Jo Barcinas is the first student body president of the Gang Resistance Education and Training, or GREAT, program that is newly implemented at ESFDB.
ESFDB is possibly the first school in the Northern Marianas to be introduced and implemented the GREAT program, which focuses on providing life skills to students to help them avoid using delinquent behavior and violence to solve problems.
GREAT offers a continuum of components for students and their families.
Barcinas is representing ESFDB in the upcoming Spelling Bee competition to be held sometime in March on Guam.
This bright and honor student had always have this competitive edge.
The three programs do have a common goal and that is to help the young students make positive life choices.
The prevention programs, run through the Pacific Regional Training Institute based out of Honolulu, Hawaii, partners with schools and various businesses to teach youngsters how to play a positive role in their school and community through achieving realistic goals, smart decision-making, effective communication, conflict resolution, anger management, and the power of saying no to drugs and violence.
The program is headed by the newly appointed PRTI director, SFC. Edward Maratita Jr.
Maratita is awaiting promotion to lieutenant to accommodate his newly appointed position.
Maratita holds a master degree in education and law. He is the only certified DARE mentor and educator to certify both law enforcement officers and educators under the banner of DARE America and DARE International.
Maratita serves as a part time teacher and school board of director’s president of ESFDB.
For their untiring support, contribution, and commitment, PRTI and ESFDB DARE/GUTS/GREAT student body association extend appreciation to all the parents, friends, donors, Barrigada Vice Mayor June U. Blas of Guam, the Guam Fire Department, Paul and Kendra Tanaka of Hawaii, Jeffrey Sai of Hawaii, Capt. Jon Takamura of Hawaii, Kristine Koide of Hawaii, the Honolulu Federal Credit Union, the Bay Breeze Restaurant on Rota and Mary Rose Lucero of Rota and the island community for the support given to the students.
