Little did she know that she “would learn to embrace the love of teaching and, most of all, the love of learning.”
After graduating from Northern Marianas Academy, Kristine headed to Hawaii to further her education at the collegiate level.
She began her studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa pursuing a degree in nursing and soon found her “heart was not in the right place.”
Her passion was working with children.
She was a youth leader in her church, a chairperson for sports and recreation events, an active member of several sports team, and, most of all, she loved working with children — especially young children at the kindergarten and first grade levels.
“I realized I was going to be someone I never imagined I’d be — a teacher!” she said.
The College of Education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa is now the home base of Kristine’s studies.
She applied for and was awarded an educational scholarship from Pacific Resources for Education and Learning at this year’s Pacific Educational Conference on Guam.
Each year, PREL awards scholarships to U.S.-affiliated Pacific island teachers or teacher candidates who are in the process of completing an accredited teacher preparation program.
Kristine has been accepted as a full-time student in the dual preparation program in elementary and special education, pursuing her bachelor of science degree in education.
After graduating, Kristine plans to further her education pursuing a degree at the master’s level and then return to Saipan to teach and provide greater educational opportunities for Pacific children.
PREL is proud to contribute to Kristine’s pursuit of her educational goals and wishes her great success.
Continental operates Japan-Palau charter flight
The charter flight departed from Okayama Airport to Palau, with the return flight departing Palau to Okayama on Sept. 23 using a Boeing 737-800.
“It gives me great pleasure that we are operating our first third-country charter flight from Japan as well as our first non-stop Japan-Palau flight,” said Charles Duncan, president of Continental Micronesia. “This will also mark the first non-stop operation from a regional Japanese city to Palau by any airline. Depending on customer demand, we will look to proactively move forward with the operation of similar third-country charter flights from locations throughout Japan.”
Flights from Okayama to Palau ordinarily pass through Continental’s hub Guam airport.
The charter flight, however, provided non-stop service to Palau, reducing travel time by more than four hours.
3 MHS students qualify for Advanced Placement scholar awards
(PSS-MHS) — Three students at Marianas High School have earned AP scholar awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on AP exams.
The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program provides motivated and academically prepared students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school, and to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP exams.
About 18 percent of the nearly 1.7 million students worldwide who took AP exams performed at a sufficiently high level to also earn an AP scholar award.
The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students’ performance on AP exams.
At Marianas High School, Odessa Slyter qualified for the AP scholar with honor ward by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.
Darren Demapan and Jessie Savellano qualified for the AP scholar award by completing three or more AP exams with grades of 3 or higher.
Through more than 30 different college-level courses and exams, AP provides motivated and academically prepared students with the opportunity to earn college credit or advanced placement and stand out in the college admissions process.
Each exam is developed by a committee of college and university faculty and AP teachers, ensuring that AP exams are aligned with the same high standards expected by college faculty at some of the nation’s leading liberal arts and research institutions.
More than 3,600 colleges and universities annually receive AP grades.
Over 90 percent of four-year colleges in the United States provide credit and/or placement for qualifying exam grades.
Research consistently shows that AP students who scored a 3 or higher on AP exams (based on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest) typically experience greater academic success in college and higher graduation rates than students who do not participate in AP.
“I am so proud of the achievement of our students on these rigorous college-level tests. This proves that our students are on par and are as academically gifted as their peers in private schools or U.S. mainland schools,” said Karen Borja, acting MHS principal.
Dog found
(PAWS) — A large brown and white male dog, approximately 1.5-2 years old, was found in the Papago area on Saturday morning. He is very gentle and friendly. If you or someone you know is missing a dog that fits this description, please contact PAWS at 285-PAWS.
You may also claim the dog at Paradise Island Animal Hospital on Middle Road, or by calling 234-9669.
High surf advisory
(EMO) — Based on the information received from the National Weather Service in Tiyan, Guam, acting Gov. Eloy S. Inos would like to inform the general public that there have been recent reports of high surf along north and west facing reefs.
A second set of long period waves from the remnants of Typhoon Choi-Wan were expected to affect the area until Tuesday morning.
A high surf advisory will be in effect until 6 a.m. today along north facing and west facing reefs.
High surf will affect exposed reefs and beaches in the advisory area and produce dangerous rip currents.
Inos is strongly advising the general public to avoid venturing near exposed reefs and beaches especially those along west and north facing reefs as rip currents are life threatening.
All beaches in the CNMI will be closed due to this advisory. Boating safety officers will be patrolling and checking all beaches to ensure that no swimmers and fisherman are venturing out.
Kagman job fair
(KKA) — The Kagman Komunidat Association would like to announce that Laolao Bay Golf Resort will hold a job fair at the Kagman Community Center today, Sept. 22, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Applications and resumes will be accepted for the different departments for Laolao’s new hotel.
Please bring your resume and dress appropriately.
Navy sends relief to NMI
(U.S. Navy) — Following the aftermath of Typhoon Choi-Wan, the USNS Alan Shepard and two MH-60S helicopters from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 arrived on station early morning on Sept. 17 to provide humanitarian support to residents of Alamagan and Agrihan, which lie approximately 146 nautical miles north of Saipan.
The USNS Alan Sheppard, a military sealift command dry cargo-ammunition ship, was tasked with transiting to the area to assist the residents who required basic survival needs following the effects of heavy rain and winds in excess of 150 mph brought on by the super typhoon.
HSC-25, for its part, delivered to the islands various supplies including more than 260 gallons of fresh water, 50 lbs. of rice and other health and comfort items.
The squadron also evacuated a family of six from Alamagan onto the USNS Alan Shepard.
After arriving aboard, the family was assessed by the ship’s medical staff prior to being flown to Saipan for further medical treatment.
