TWENTY-THREE Marianas High School students have completed certification courses in Entrepreneurship and Small Business, and IT Specialist Networking and Network Security.
Receiving their Entrepreneurship and Small Business certificates were Rhian Alfonso, John Denver Morales, Melvin Han, Raymond King Jr., Nowrin Bhuiyan and Michelle Balensosa.
Each of them presented their business proposals before receiving their certificates during an awards ceremony in the MHS Cafeteria on Friday at 4 p.m.
Those who completed the IT Specialist Networking and Network Security course were Justin Fanafal, Yuan Francia, Zhalick Hane, Liam Macatangay, Arven Mangulabnan, Gabriel Narciso, Yel Ocampo, Enoch Pamintuan, Alexa Grace Ramos, Ralph Laurence Tibayan, Chester Torres, Thomas Vergara, Zheng Ao Zhang, Maria Zheng, Kenny Zhang, Jie Yi Zheng and Rafael Nathan Busby.
Their IT instructor was Island Training Solutions’ Herman Kintol, who has over 16 years of IT experience on the U.S. mainland and the Marianas. He is certified by globally recognized organizations such as ISC2, CompTIA, CISCO, and Pearson Vue Certiport.
Public School System Senior Director for Curriculum and Instructional Services Dr. Rizalina Liwag said the students are now career ready and “hirable” as soon as they graduate from high school.
“We are proud of them,” she said.
The certification courses, Liwag said, are part of PSS’ future pathway certification classes, “and we are very happy to partner with different agencies and vendors to ensure the completion of our pathway.”
Island Training Solutions Chief Operating Officer Alex Hu said, “I cannot tell you how proud we are of these students who successfully passed the MHS Entrepreneurship and Small Business and IT Specialist Networking and Network Security Certification classes.”
He said these are two of ITS’ most advanced courses. The entrepreneurship class is recommended for two college credits, while the IT Specialist Networking and Network Security courses are each recommended for three college credits by the American Council on Education, he added.
He said these classes are part of PSS’ future pathway certification classes that start in middle school.
“We are very thankful for the privilege to be able to offer these classes to PSS students in partnership with MHS and the PSS Career and Technical Education Program led by Dr. Liwag and Dr. Jessica Taylor,” Hu said.
The federally funded CTE Program offers career-centered initiatives and provides direct support to students’ classroom learning and success after high school.
The six Marianas High School students who completed the Entrepreneurship and Small Business certification course pose for a photo with Public School System Senior Director for Curriculum and Instructional Services Dr. Rizalina Liwag, PSS Career and Technical Education Program Manager Jessica Taylor, MHS Vice Principal Preston Basa, Island Training Solutions Chief Operating Officer Alex Hu and ITS instructor Herman Kintol in the MHS cafeteria on Friday.
Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano
Thirteen of the 17 MHS students who completed the IT Specialist Networking and Network Security certification course pose for a photo with Public School System Senior Director for Curriculum and Instructional Services Dr. Rizalina Liwag, PSS Career and Technical Education Program Manager Jessica Taylor, MHS Vice Principal Preston Basa, Island Training Solutions Chief Operating Officer Alex Hu and ITS instructor Herman Kintol in the MHS cafeteria on Friday.
