Ryu, together with Yeo Jin Lee, also received the Outstanding Academic Excellence Award
Ryu was the class valedictorian while Lee was the salutatorian.
Ryu was with her grandparents because her parents Ryu Sung Hun and Lee Moon Hang were in South Korea.
“Even though my mom and dad are not here, I want to say to them, ‘Thank you for sending me to Saipan, thank you for raising me in a Christian family, and thank you for all the things that you sacrificed for me,’ ” Ryu said in her valedictory address.
In an interview, Ryu said she was happy even though her parents were not able to attend the ceremony.
She said she was thankful for her grandparents who encouraged her with love, prayers and smiles.
“They have been taking care of me since kindergarten, and I want to say thank you and I love you.”
Ryu said she will be a Mount Carmel High School student when the new school year begins in August.
Tamiko Winkfield, an SCS faculty member, delivered an inspiring message to the students.
She talked about Christian values and Christ-centered goals that can guide students to achieve success in their endeavors.
SCS principal Bobby Winkfield and Debbie Winkfield gave special awards to Sabina Calvo, Yeo Lin Lee, Bryan Cho, Justin Poon, Hee Jin Cho and Jonelie Torres for their perfect attendance.
The other recipients of the President’s Education Award were Sabina Calvo, Hee Jin Cho, Christian Tudela, Francisco Camacho, Yeo Jin Lee, Albert Yen, Bryan Cho and Jonelie Torres.
Ji Min Ryu and Jonelie Torres received the Ukelele Elite Award while Justin Poon received the Scholar/Athlete and outstanding academic excellent-gold awards.
The students who completed junior high school at SCS were Sabina Calvo, Francisco Camacho, Ting Fung Chan, Bryan Cho, Hee Jin Cho, Kevin Fejeran, Carine Fujie, Young Chae Han, Yong Jun Jeon, James Ko, Yeo Jin Lee, Justin Pono, Victoria Reyes, Ji Min Ryu, Jonelie Torres, Christian Tudela, Albert Yen and Anna Zhu.
