Both students will be graduating with their bachelor of science in elementary education, and will be working for the Public School System after they graduate.
“We are extremely proud of Keoni and Angel and the hard work, commitment, and the perseverance they have consistently demonstrated in the past few years,” said Cyndi Deleon Guerrero, director of the NMC School of Education.
In a recent interview, both students described their influences, challenges, and also offered some advice to new college students.
“One of the challenges I faced during my studies was being able to support two kids while I finished my degree,” Hart said. “I had a very good support system at work, a caring fiancée, and friends that kept me focused on the end result.”
Ichihara indicated that one of his main sources of inspiration were his family, parents, and friends.
“They have been extremely supportive,” Ichihara said.
Ichihara also added that one the most important lessons he learned through his studies is that “every student and child deserves a chance to succeed.”
Hart, on the other hand, said that one of the most important lessons she has learned while pursuing her degree was that “we never stop learning.”
Asked about her favorite class, Hart said that “all of the classes I took were my favorite because they all brought something to the table that taught me what it is to be an educator.”
Both recommend that students start their college education at Northern Marianas College.
“I especially recommend NMC to those who cannot afford to go off island to get their degree,” said Hart. “In your classes and your degree program, NMC becomes your family, and on Saipan, family is the most important thing in our lives.”
Ichihara recommends NMC especially for those who are not sure about where to go yet, “because NMC is a good place to start.”
Ichihara also advises students who are just beginning their college studies to “believe in yourself.”
Hart recommends that students “should keep their focus and should not let little setbacks stop them from moving forward.”
“Above all,” Hart added, “have fun.”
Bartenders, chefs competitions coming up at ‘Taste’
(MVA) — The Marianas Visitors Authority’s month-long Taste of the Marianas Food Festival & Beer Garden heats up over the next two weekends, with the Bartender Cocktail Competition slated for this Saturday and the Chefs’ Competition on close-out night, May 30.
The Bartender Cocktail Competition will judge competitors based on showmanship, taste, originality, audience impact, and neatness.
Participants will have five minutes to prepare four drinks, one for display and three for tasting.
All recipes will include Burnett’s Vodka, and all entry cocktails must include Coco-Cola products only.
This Saturday’s competition will start at 7 p.m.
Winners will take home cash prizes, trophies, and other gifts.
Bartender competitors will be Ramil Eustaquio of Wonderful Bar, Rio Therese and Ju Hyun Kang of Pacific Islands Club Saipan, Emil Gammad and Jovei San Juan of Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino, Glen Aquino and Jaymar Torres of Aqua Resort Club, Wilfredo Garon and Rommel Usi of Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan, Jojo Solmarin of Moby Dick Restaurant, Kenneth Crusat of Country House Restaurant, Michael Lim of Country Bar, Jay Santos of The Flair, Marlon Pineda of Saipan World Resort, Amapola Castro of Hyatt Regency Saipan, and Bernardine Aquino of Hyatt Regency Saipan.
The “Beef and Reef”-themed Chefs Competition will be the highlight of the final Taste of the Marianas next Saturday, May 30.
Participants will show off their skill and ingenuity in culinary creations using Certified Angus Beef Flank Steak and Marianas Sweet Shrimp.
Entries will be judged on appearance of the dishes; tenderness, texture, and taste; and presentation of the theme.
Earlier this month MVA, Triple J Five Star Wholesale and MARPAC awarded winners of the Beach Road Burger Cook-off based on four criteria: originality and recipe and ingredients, apparent ease of preparation, taste appeal and presentation.
Roderick Lopez zipped to first place with combined total points of 77.6, while Arvin Ian Sales garnered second place with 72.6 points.
Third place went to Doris Saures.
The judges for the burger cook-off were F&B Director Ranjeet Rajebhosale of Hyatt Regency Saipan; Pacific Islands Club Saipan Executive Chef Darren Ferrall; and General Manager Kim Forrester of Triple J Five Star Wholesale.
The Taste of the Marianas Food Festival & Beer Garden serves up island delicacies and international dishes from local hotels, restaurants and other food vendors each Saturday during May Tourism Month at American Memorial Park on Saipan.
The annual event is organized by MVA and the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Made in the Marianas Festival
THE Made in the Marianas Festival, which will be held for the first time on June 24, is being organized by members of the Off the Beaten Path to showcase indigenous products created with the ingenuity, imagination, and originality of CNMI artists, a media release stated.
“Attendees of the festival can expect to be charmed by locally produced fashion accessories, crafts, garments, gifts, and other products found uniquely in the Marianas,” said Frankie M. Eliptico, OBP president.
Eliptico said the event will entice visitors to try the delectable local dishes and beverages and introduce the local community to the concept of buying foods and products that are made locally which in turn helps to build sustainable communities.
One of the goals of the festival is to heighten awareness and appreciation of the CNMI Museum and its cultural and historic importance.
During the festival, visitors are welcome to view current exhibits and displays currently featured at the NMI Museum of History and Culture.
A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the Museum and the planning of OBP’s next event to benefit the CNMI Autism Society.
For a small entrance fee, $10, festival-goers will enjoy a free glass of soda, wine or beer as they peruse the locally available products, unique to the Marianas.
Tickets to the Made in the Marianas Festival are available at the NMI Museum of History and Culture and with OBP members.
For additional information, e-mail [email protected] or contact Robert Hunter at the NMI Museum at 664-2160/4.
(DEQ) — The Cook A Rainbow Challenge will be held at the Garapan Street Market on Thursday, June 25, starting at 7pm.
Patricia Coleman, contest coordinator, said there were not enough participants by the March 30 deadline and perhaps postponing the event would attract more cooks.
The challenge is open to nonprofessional — members of the community with no association to a restaurant or food service establishment.
Organizers added a second category for youngsters. The youth category is open to students between the ages of 10 and 17 years.
Participation is limited and interested cooks must sign up before June 10.
According to Coleman, judging will be based on taste, creative presentation, texture, use of fresh local ingredients and originality.
The Cook A Rainbow Challenge will now be held in conjunction with the Pacific Islands Environmental Conference.
For more information, contact Rose or Patricia at 234-5498 ext. 1726 or 1703.
NMC summer registration begins
(NMC) — Registration for Northern Marianas College’s Summer 2009 semester began yesterday and will end on May 22.
New students are required to take an English and Math placement test before they register. The schedule of placement tests and the Summer 2009 class schedule can be found online at www.nmcnet.edu.
The Summer 2009 semester is divided into four sessions: Regular Summer Session, nine-week courses; Extended Summer Session, 12-week courses; Summer Session I, six-week courses; and Summer Session II, six-week courses starting July 6.
For more information regarding admissions or registration, contact 234-5498 ext. 1537 or e-mail [email protected].
Yap investigates Taiwanese fishing vessel
COLONIA, Yap (Yap State Government) — Authorities are still investigating the charge against the captain and crew of the Her Hae #26, a Taiwanese fishing vessel, for improperly maintaining a log of its catch.
The logbook that the crew kept does not correspond with the pieces of fish they have on board.
It does not even specify the types and the number of fish it caught each day or each week since it began fishing in FSM waters in March of this year.
The Her Hae #26 was apprehended by an FSM patrol boat, the FSS Independence, while fishing in Yap waters south of Sorol Island, and within FSM’s exclusive economic zone.
The crew of the FSS Independence brought in the Taiwanese vessel for proper investigation and questioning by state and national authorities.
The Taiwanese fishing vessel has 11 crewmembers including the master who is the only Taiwanese national among the crew. The rest are all nationals of Indonesia.
The Her Hae #26 is a long liner with a foreign fishing permit for the exclusive economic zone of the Federated States of Micronesia.
The license will expire on May 24.
