The Marianas High School Concert Band won gold and was named one of the command performance groups — one of the highest honors at the Tumon Bay Music Festival. In photo are band director Atsuko Eck, center, foreground, and adjudicator Atsushi Yamashita, third left, with the band members. Contributed photo
Saipan Fishermen’s Association’s “Tasi to Table” Youth Fishing Club members pose for a photo during the 1st shoreline casting tournament on Saturday. Photos by Floyd Masga
“A lot of children in the pediatric ward just stay there and they have no source of entertainment,” club president Catherine Byen said. “So we thought it would be a great idea to donate some books.”
She said the books were donated by their school library, teachers, and fellow students.
For their part, the club members raised funds to to buy a book-cart that they also donated.
Byen, said the donation also provided an opportunity for club members to meet with CHCC doctors.
Ryan Kang, MHS Pre-Med Club vice president, said the donation was their first community activity.
“Hopefully, it will be the first step in a series of events that we will do for the community,” Kang added.
CHCC nursing director Renea Raho thanked the students for the donation. “From the bottom of our hearts, I would like to thank the MHS Pre-Med Club for the donation. Books are precious. We want the kids to be exposed to reading instead of playing video games.”
Raho said the hospital also receives book donations from different organizations.
The books donated by the MHS club, she added, will be available in the outpatient clinic. “While children are waiting to be seen, they can read a book instead of running around.”
Raho also discussed the CHCC volunteer program with the MHS students.
She said the program allows students to “shadow” and observe medical providers and personnel at work.
The program, she added, “gives us the opportunity to introduce high school students to the medical field. We hope that they will be interested in pursuing a career in medicine.”
