GOVERNOR Juan N. Babauta expressed confidence that the 200 new graduates of Northern Marianas College, including the first batch of teachers who earned their bachelor of science in elementary education, would help improve the CNMI economy by increasing the pool of highly educated local manpower.
Rain poured throughout the two-hour 21st NMC commencement exercise at American Memorial Park, but it did not dampen the spirit of the graduates.
“My message for the NMC Class of 2002 is a big, big congratulations for their achievement. I can’t emphasize enough how much important education is. I am proud of what they have achieved. Education is probably the most important, most fundamental achievement that we could have in order for our economy to move forward,” the governor told Variety.
Acting NMC President Barbara Moir and State Board of Regents Chairman Fermin M. Atalig said the graduates face tough times due to the global economic crisis but they are confident the graduates are ready to face the challenges.
“The challenges faced by new graduates are greater now than ever before. Today’s workplace demands not only greater knowledge and skills from its human resources but also a higher level of integrity and stronger work ethics,” the two NMC leaders told the students.
“We know that you are ready to meet these challenges head on and we trust that you will not compromise your integrity and principles in doing so,” they added.
The 21st NMC commencement exercise was significant because it produced, for the first time in Northern Marianas history, 30 “homegrown” elementary school teachers.
The governor said he would like to see more students entering the field of education and other professional areas.
“We would like to see more and more teachers and higher degrees. It benefits our students and our schools whether its elementary, high school or post-secondary,” Babauta said.
Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos, Marianas High School Principal James Denight and other CNMI and education officials witnessed the historic commencement exercise.
Marie Nora Palacios Coleman, who graduated summa cum laude and is the recipient of the Student Achievement Award, said she left school when she was 17 because she got married early.
Now a 31-year-old single parent of three children, Coleman said it was “really difficult” to juggle her responsibilities as a mother, an employee at the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and a student but she had to do it all for her children.
“It’s never been really easy. Every time I look at my children, I knew I have to be strong for them,” she said.
Coleman said she wasn’t expecting to graduate with honors but she tried her best to get good grades.
She advised the graduates to find their purpose in life and trust in God.
Betty J. Leonard, a summa cum laude graduate with a BSEE degree, told her fellow graduates that education has many beginnings and many endings.
Leonard said just like John F. Kennedy she believes that life is a “race between education and catastrophe.”
