Loria Dee Ada Hocog, 12, daughter of Legislative program assistant Rose Ada-Hocog, who was the recipient of the Commissioner’s Award, admitted she didn’t expect to receive the highest honor.
“There’s a lot of complication in my study because there are a lot of smart kids in the school,” she told the Variety.
Hocog was given seven other honors, including Top 5 and Best in Math, Science, Social Studies, Reading, Writing, and Bilingual Studies.
Koblerville Elementary School Principal Rizalina Purugganan’s daughter Blesilda Grace Maratita was the Principal’s Award recipient.
Like Hocog, Maratita said she was not expecting to get the second highest honor but “I’ve been working hard to maintain high grades.”
Maratita was also included in the top five students and received awards in subject areas as Best in Science, Social Studies, Reading, Writing, and Bilingual Studies.
In her brief speech, Hocog told fellow graduates that a great deal have happened in the short six years – they were changed, grown up and become smarter, more sociable and award of what their future holds.
“What makes success and what has helped me to reach my rank is overcoming weaknesses,” she said.
Hocog is planning to enroll at Southern Saipan High School while Maratita at Hopwood Junior High School.
The other students in the top five lists are Jarley Blanca, Emerson Feria and Merly-Ann Fernandez.
There were three who received the Presidential Award for Educational Achievement – Joseph Gilnifrad, Kristen Romolor and Glenn Zachrias. This award was given to only one student from each 6th grade class who showed tremendous growth and improvement in their class.
The recipients of President’s Award for Educational Excellence are Jeromaya Ada, Keoni Borja, Ella Mae Dela Cruz, Joshua Keller, Franklin Lizama, Blesilda Maratita, Bennylyn Ada, Min Ho Jung, Bradley Lieto, Michelle Minor, Travis Ngiramengior, Franvina Sos, Ethan Yobech, Loria Dee Hocog, Emerson Feria, Jarley Blanca, Emily Rose DeWitt, Merly-Ann Fernandez, James Kintaro, Jurinah Navarro, Noely San Juan, Shawn Santos, Grace Seo and Julian Tagabuel Jr.
Jarley Blance was given the Spelling Bee Award while Emily Rose DeWitt, Geography Bee Award.
The Student Council Leadership Awards were received by the Stuco president Loria Dee A. Hocog, vice president Noely San Juan, secretary Merly Ann Fernandez, treasurer Kavita , and sgt. at arms Emerson Feria.
The Best in Math Awardees are Loria Dee Hocog, Emerson Feria, Merly-Ann Fernandez, and Woo Seok Choi.
Aside from Hocog and Maratita, Jarley Blanca also obtained the Best in Science, Social Studies, Reading, and Writing Awards.
Bilingual Award were given to Jeromaya Ross Ada, Maratita, Hocog, and Noely San Juan.
Nancy Oscar and Emerson Feria were the recipients of the Sports Championship Award.
Deputy Labor Secretary Cinta Kaipat and Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan led the presentation of awards to 72 graduates.
The theme for this year’s promotional ceremony is “Challenge What the Future Holds.”
Kaipat, who was the keynote speaker, encouraged not only graduates but also parents and visitors to actively get involve in community service.
As one of those who conceptualized the Beautify CNMI program, Kaipat invited the community to help build a clean environment and spread the “beautify virus” to other people. “This is incurable and you have to be infected until everyone will have the virus.”
Sablan, for her part, told parents there assistance is more needed now when their children go the high school because there are lots of challenges waiting for them ahead.
She thanked the school teachers and administrators for their support that made the school maintained its accreditation.
