“I turned into what is called a street life gangster selling drugs and doing it for two years until justice caught me and put me in jail,” said Greg Magofna, who studied culinary arts basic course at the institute.
Magofna said he is grateful for being given the opportunity to pursue his education.
He said he was a high school dropout who eventually got his general educational development diploma from Northern Marianas College and worked for the now defunct garment industry,
“Let us keep this school alive,” Magofna said during the institute’s student achievement ceremony on Friday.
Lt. Gov. Eloy Inos, who delivered the message of Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, told the students that they are “achievers” who deserve special public recognition.
“By attending this institute, the students here are taking concrete steps to improve their lives by learning a trade, skill or craft. This is positive for our community and for our economy, particularly now that we can no longer rely on foreign labor in view of the highly restrictive federal labor and immigration policies to come,” Inos said.
With the lt. governor were Senate President Pete P. Reyes, Speaker Arnold I. Palacios, Reps. Ramon A. Tebuteb and Edward T. Salas.
Inos encouraged the students to “passionately” pursue a trade they can appreciate and enjoy, one that provides personal satisfaction and a means of financial support.
“This educational institution provides the means for greater self-reliance, and I am pleased to join the Legislature in supporting it with educational tax credits and other funding opportunities,” the lt. governor said.
Aside from Magofna, students Diane Nimwes and Magdalena Cepeda also gave their respective remarks.
The institute’s chairman, Anthony Pellegrino, led the presentation and distribution of certificates to the students.
He acknowledged the support of the instructors — Mike Anthony, core curriculum; Susana Paras, basic sewing; James Thomas, auto mechanics A; Dante Yumul, auto mechanics B; Zenn Tomokane, cooking A; Norissa Camacho, cooking B; and William Kintz, carpentry.
Four students have completed the core curriculum: Eloyd Jim, Don Enrico Ngiraked, Vicente Sablan and Bonifacio Wabol.
Four others finished basic sewing: Lydia Iguel, Agnes Maranan, Diane Nimwes and Gina Yaroitemal.
The student achievers in auto mechanics A were Don Aguon, Joshua Garde, Marlon Gare, Ismike Magofna, Miguel Magofna, Duke Malakai, Lorenzo Mettao, Antonio Norita, Ryan Pangelinan, Denson Renguul, Daniel Rimirch and Jesus Vicente Santos.
For auto mechanics B — Rodney Aguon, Matthew Aaron, Edwin Camacho, Peter Camacho, Ricardo Kaipat, Leonel Magsa, Tyrone Phillip and Rodney Pinaula.
There are 15 students who received certificates for completing the cooking A course:
Maria Arriola, Magdalena Cepeda, Jovita Fitipol, Kashmir Iderbei, Augustina Jaimatoon, Stephanie Magofna, Maria Ana Mendiola, Yan Che Pangelinan, Rosa Quitugua, Nieves Romolor, Rosa Sanchez, Bernie Taitingfong, Tina Taitingfong, Margarita Taman and Sylvestre Tomokane.
For cooking B, those who received the certificates were Kenlynn Aia, Kaymin Amandus, Marylou Atalig, Nieves Dela Rosa, Florence Erlet, Heidi Garde Ryan Garde, Peggy Hong, Greg Magofna and Jesse John Stephen.
In an interview, culinary student Tina Taitingfong said she enrolled because “I want to be a baker since I love cooking and baking cake.”
Kenlynn Aia, for her part, believes she can find work easily if she can acquire sufficient knowledge and experience in the culinary arts, which, she said, are in demand on island because of the many restaurant and hotels catering to tourists.
