(PSS) — Eight CNMI student groups delivered groundbreaking presentations during the Public School System’s STEM Showcase on the evening of May 21, 2005 at the indoor theater of American Memorial Park. Their research and projects earned the CNMI national recognition.
These students, who are from local public and private schools in the Commonwealth, created, researched, and developed extraordinary STEM projects.
To show how STEM can be used to solve real-world problems, a seven-person Real World Design Challenge team from Marianas High School highlighted their project: an unmanned aerial vehicle design to help wildfire prevention and response.
MHS students Soarin Oh, Jedri Aniciete, Davan Indalecio, Yejin Son, Gwanhun Son, Gwanpil Son, and Jian Sales make up the team.
The Saipan Southern High School-Marianas High School team that won the Congressional App Challenge presented Neni, an app that supports Chamorro language learning at home. The app showcased the students’ creativity and technical skills in developing culturally relevant education tools. The team is composed of MHS students Kelly Zheng and Jedric Aniciete, and SSHS students Mai Peters and Yu Ling Chai.
For their part, MHS students Rhoana Caylee A. Macalina, Soarin Oh, Reggie Castro, Davan Indalecio, and David Cai worked on a NASA TechRise research project involving suborbital flight platforms. Their design and findings focused on scientific research and space exploration.
Saipan International School’s Ja Young Kim received recognition for her research project, which qualified her for the National STEM Festival.
From May 10 to 16, a group of five Saipan International School students participated in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. They are Lya Kim, Jiho Kong, Ja Young Kim, Irene Park, Dong Hyun Lee, and Dong Gyu Lee. All are CNMI-level STEM winners.
The annual fair features top projects from states, territories, and countries around the world, offering participants the chance to gain global recognition, scholarships, monetary awards, and enrichment opportunities.
At the Vex World Championships in Texas, the CNMI’s Lattebots, competed against over 800 teams from around the world.
The Lattebots were among the select teams that advanced to the main competition, chosen from over 9,800 teams worldwide. This also marked the CNMI’s first participation in the global event.
The Lattebots are Marianas High School students Ian Chae, Jian Sales, Bradley Ordona, Kelly Lian, Seungwoo Choi, and Minsu Kim.
In February 2025, the MHS JROTC Robotics Team made a triumphant international debut at the 8th Brigade Robotics Competition in California. Cadets Maxine Candare, Robert Riggillo, Angel Basa, Jess Gong, Jevon Gong, Caitlin Ignacio, Belle Oval, and Yong Lin were recognized for their impressive skills in building, programming, and leveraging technology to overcome complex challenges in robot creation.
Stephanie Diaz, a senior at Tinian High School, and Gwanhun Son of Marianas High School recently made history as the first students to represent the CNMI at the Regional Junior Science & Humanities Symposium.
Diaz presented her research project on cultivating zooplankton, marking the CNMI’s first-ever participation in the prestigious event. Diaz hopes to inspire other students — especially those from Tinian — to explore the diverse opportunities that STEM has to offer.
During the PSS STEM Showcase, AMP’s indoor theater was filled to capacity with education officials, parents and other community members.
Among those in attendance were Board of Education Chairman Aschumar Kodep Ogumuro-Uludong, Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, Federal Programs Officer Jacqueline P. Che, Instructional Technology and Distance Education Director Dr. Lorraine Catienza, BOE Student Representative and Youth Congress Speaker Vinnie Juan Q. Sablan, Science Program Director Asapmar Ogumoro, Statewide Longitudinal Data System Director Dr. Annette Pladevega Sablan, MHS Principal Melanie S. Rdiall, MHS Vice Principal Romolo A. Orsini, Oleai Elementary School Principal Jasylene Parico, Special Education State Director Donna M. Flores, ITDE’s Dr. Riya Nathrani, and Family Engagement and Community Involvement Coordinator Liela C. Yumul. Also attending the presentation were House Speaker Edmund Villagomez, Sen. Ronnie Calvo, Public Works Secretary Ray N. Yumul, and Youth Sen. Ayden Sean C. Yumul.
The Real-World Design Challenge team from Marianas High School presents their unmanned aerial vehicle design during the Public School System STEM Showcase at American Memorial Park’s indoor theater on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.
Kelly Zheng of Marianas High School, left, smiles as Mai Peters, right, talks about the winning Congressional App Challenge called “Neni,” which was designed by a team of students that consisted of Peters and Yu Ling Chai of Saipan Southern High School and Zheng and Jedric Aniciete of Marianas High School.
The NASA TechRise research project of Marianas High School students pertains to suborbital flight platforms.
Student Ja Young Kim speaks of her highly praised research project that she presented at the National STEM Festival.
A group of five CNMI students participated in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair this month. The annual fair features top projects from states, territories, and countries around the world, offering participants the chance to gain global recognition, scholarships, monetary awards, and enrichment opportunities.
The Lattebots, the CNMI’s Vex Robotics Team, present their highly acclaimed robot.
A drone programmed by the Marianas High School team soars through a ring during a demonstration.
The MHS JROTC Robotics Team talks about their participation in the 8th Robotic Brigade Competition in San Diego, California.
