DEAR NMC President Galvin Deleon Guerrero and the NMC NextGen Team:
I am writing to express my deep gratitude for your unwavering support of the NextGen Scholarship Program and its recipients pursuing higher education across the nation. As a recipient, this scholarship eases the financial burden of graduate school, providing an essential resource to help all recipients navigate numerous challenges far from home. Your dedication to our success is greatly appreciated.
Though the future of federal funding remains uncertain for programs like NextGen, losing this vital support would be especially devastating for students from island communities like ours, where access to higher education and specialized career pathways is already limited. Despite these challenges, NMC has remained a steadfast advocate, ensuring that all students continue to receive the necessary support to stay on track academically and professionally. Your commitment provides all scholarship recipients stability and encouragement during this uncertain time, and I am incredibly grateful for your leadership and advocacy. To the NMC NextGen team, thank you for your tireless efforts behind the scenes. I also extend my deepest appreciation to Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds for her advocacy in Congress on behalf of all CNMI students. I sincerely hope this funding remains active through 2027, as promised.
Thank you all for your dedication to shaping the future of our islands. Si Yu’us Ma’ase, Mahalo, and E Mālama Pono.
Sincerely,
JOHNNY TUDELA ALDAN JR.
Ph.D. Student, Epidemiology
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
