In 2003, COM-FSM Pohnpei Campus received a $67,400 Community Facilities award to assist in the funding of the renovation of the Student Service Center, which is located in a section of the gym.
During the ceremony, COM-FSM Vice President of Administration Joe Habuchmai expressed “sincere gratitude and appreciation to the government of the United States of America, specifically the U.S. Department of Agriculture for [its] continuous support of the College of Micronesia-FSM.”
In her remarks, U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Lori P. Dando expressed delight that USDA Rural Development continues to assist COM-FSM Pohnpei Campus in enhancing its facilities and resources. Dando explained that the vehicle should be employed “to provide students a reliable means of transportation to class, to allow faculty transportation to bring a class to a site of current study, or permit administrators a vehicle to safely transport college community members to an educational event.”
Highlighting Ambassador Peter Prahar’s commitment to education reform in the FSM, Dando stressed that “facilities and resources are just one piece of the puzzle. As Ambassador Prahar has said time and time again, a good education also requires a strong, coherent curriculum, dedicated and professional teachers and administrators, and parents and communities that support and value education.”
Before officially handing the vehicle key over to COM-FSM, Dando explained that “as members of the college community we realize how important a good education is to our lives. It is key to a life of opportunity and choice. It is key to ensuring the well-being of our families and communities. It is key to our self-respect and earning the respect of others.”
