ANUSHI Joshi, the president of the Associated Students of Northern Marianas College, commended and thanked Gov. Ralph DLG Torres for donating $100,000 to the NMC Foundation.
According to Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig, the amount is from the governor’s discretionary account funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.
A business major, Joshi is not eligible to receive CNMI scholarship grants because she is not a U.S. citizen.
The governor has said that students who call the Marianas home should be given the opportunity to obtain financial aid to attend the local college.
Joshi, 20, said due to lack of financial support, many students may have to drop out of NMC.
“So, this is a very great opportunity for all NMC students,” she added, referring to the governor’s donation. “This is very great. I am excited to tell my parents about this.”
The governor said during the NMC townhall meeting last month, he was asked about non-U.S. citizen students of NMC who do not qualify for local or federal scholarship programs.
He noted that the other gubernatorial candidates were asked the same question.
“So, I spoke to [Finance Secretary] Dave [Atalig], and I said I would like to put $100,000 into NMC Foundation.”
“I figured it is important to give the students the opportunity to grow,” the governor added.
He said an educated community “is best for all of us.” Giving an opportunity to all those who call the CNMI home “can only benefit all of us,” he added.
Vicente “Ben” Babauta, the NMC Foundation chairman, said the donation was “truly remarkable,” and will help college students.
NMC Board of Regents Chairman Charles Cepeda said with the help of the governor, through the foundation, they can now say that NMC has fulfilled its “Proa promise,” an initiative that aims to help students with their education costs not covered by federal or local financial aid.
