(MCS) — To conclude the 2021-2022 school year, Mount Carmel School held its annual commencement ceremonies this past week.
All the ceremonies were held at the Mount Carmel Cathedral and after two years of Covid-19 restrictions, many family members and friends of the school’s graduates were able to attend this year’s commencement ceremonies. For those unable to attend in-person, the graduation ceremonies were also streamed live online through the MCS Facebook page.
This year, Mount Carmel School conferred diplomas for 36 kindergarten students, 55 eighth-grade students, and 52 graduating seniors.
Among the eighth-grade graduates, Valerie Anne Rivera Estella earned the salutatorian award with William Matthew B. Cano earning the title as the eighth-grade class valedictorian.
Among high school graduates from the class of 2022, Richard Jesus Mafnas Villagomez earned the salutatorian award and Aleia Carlinne Hofschneider Santos earned the title as the school’s valedictorian.
During her welcoming remarks, MCS principal and acting president Frances Taimanao congratulated all the students and commended them for their level of impact they’ve made during a challenging school year of school closures, transitions between face-to-face and remote learning, Covid-19 tests and restrictions, all the while promoting school spirit and excellence.
“You are a creative group of young people who have shown good character and leadership for the students in this school. You have shown leadership in your own unique ways. You have involved yourself in the school’s leadership meetings, the planning of the school’s strategic master plan, community services, sports, charity, island wide competitions, and much more,” shared Taimanao.
Towards the end of her remarks, she also expressed thanks for the parents of the graduates stating, “To the dedicated parents of these graduates. Congratulations and a job well done. Thank you for all the sacrifices you made just to send your child to Mount Carmel. For this, we are forever grateful. On behalf of the board of directors, the leadership team, faculty & staff, thank you for all your support and for believing in Catholic education.”
Mount Carmel School’s keynote speaker for the commencement ceremony and former school president, Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero, gave a heartfelt speech that left many of the attending audience emotional. Leading with the theme about the value of time and how more often than not, people tend to dedicate time to trivial situations that often do not matter.
“It’s funny how, more than our own family and friends, we seem to pay more attention to complete strangers whose lives have absolutely no consequence to us —trolls, haters, celebrities, social influencers, or fictional characters on TV shows like ‘Bridgerton.’ But, imagine also if you knew that a dear family member or a close friend were to die one year from now, one month from now, or one week from now. What would you do with that time? Would you make an effort to visit your grandparents of your own accord? Would you reach out to those who have hurt you, or those you have hurt, to make amends? Would you join the gang at the beach, return someone’s call, or simply respond to a message, instead of leaving it unread?”
Dr. G’s speech left the graduates with three primary lessons. First, make the most of their time. Second, make the most of other people’s time. Lastly, make the most of moments of time.
Bringing his speech back to the same question he asked at the beginning, “If you knew you only had 30 seconds left, what would you do? So right here, right now, let’s take 30 seconds to carpe diem and savor this very moment. When I start the timer, look at your family, look at your teachers, look at your friends. Feel free to cry. Feel free to laugh. Feel free to cheer. But, whatever you do, make the most of these 30 seconds.”
During each event, the following awards were presented:
12th grade graduates with honors
Valedictorian – Aleia Carlinne Hofschneider Santos
Salutatorian – Richard Jesus Mafnas Villagomez
1st Honor – Fiona Marielle Avengana Bucalig
2nd Honor – Monique Laura F. Duenas
3rd Honor – Hyunkyu Park
4th Honor – Jeremiah Jerome Hernandez Diaz
5th Honor – Larry Dean Tenorio Cruz
6th Honor – Christian Felix Cabrera Guerrero
7th Honor – Vaughn Andrei Abigania Mallari
8th Honor – Jefferey Y. Sheu
9th Honor – Robin Kyle M. Alvarez
10th Honor – Hannah D. Lacap
11th Honor – Kim Jun Beom
12th Honor – Raesyl Gerard Lopez Solis
13th Honor – Theresa Rose Cano Schweiger
14th Honor – Kaia De Jesus Travilla
15th Honor – Joshua Donovan Camacho Tenorio
16th Honor – William Nathaniel E. Ano
17th Honor – Yujeong Son
18th honor – Kiana Lei Manglona Propst
19th Honor – Ryu Jihwan
20th Honor – Hyunjun Kim
21st Honor – Christopher Adam L. Mafnas
22nd Honor – Regina T. Huerto
23rd Honor – Richard Ramon Steele
24th Honor – Cory Lee
12th grade special awards
Bishop Christian Service Award – Richard Jesus Mafnas Villagomez
President’s Award – Richard Jesus Mafnas Villagomez
Governor’s Leadership Award – Richard Jesus Mafnas Villagomez
Lieutenant Governor’s Leadership Award – Vaughn Andrei Abigania Mallari
Outstanding Female Graduate – Aleia Carlinne Hofschneider Santos
12th grade subject awards
English Language – Richard Jesus Mafnas Villagomez
Science – Monique Laura F. Duenas
Mathematics – Richard Jesus Mafnas Villagomez
Social Science – Aleia Carlinne Hofschneider Santos
Theology – Aleia Carlinne Hofschneider Santos
Computer Science – Aleia Carlinne Hofschneider Santos
Foreign Language – Yujeong Son
Art – Yujeong Son
Music – Jedric Nathaniel C. Villar
Drama – Larry Dean Tenorio Cruz
Speech – Aleia Carlinne Hofschneider Santos
Physical/Health Education, Female – Fiona Marielle Avengana Bucalig
Male – Jeremiah Jerome Hernandez Diaz
8th grade promotees with honors
Valedictorian – William Matthew B. Cano
Salutatorian – Valerie Anne Rivera Estella
1st Honor – Kayli Ari Salas
2nd Honor – Patricia Denielle Guillo Lugtu
3rd Honor – Victor Nash Maniego Santos
4th Honor – Jessiana Borja Tenorio
5th Honor – Gavril Myles Ritumalta Santiago
6th Honor – Leonard Jake B. Regalado
7th Honor – Emmanuel Cruzat Pontiveros
8th Honor – Kate Nicole A. Cabalbag
9th Honor – Mikayla Ikeda Castro
10th Honor – Seunghee Jeon
11th Honor – Chae Eun Kim
12th Honor – Arwen Hannah N. Bartolata
13th Honor – Mya AnnDrew Eve DLG. Pangelinan
14th Honor – Asa Vanessa Backe
15th Honor (Tie) – Ayanna Faith Hernandez Matsumoto and Camron Zavier Santos Pangelinan
16th Honor – Oscar Bien Reyes Buenaflor
17th Honor – Heleyna Frielle Cruz Dela Santa
18th Honor – Quince Emanuel Olanda Tizon
19th Honor – Sophia Joshabelle Tenorio
20th Honor – Elise Furey Maratita
21st Honor – Ainsley Parnes Ancheta
22nd Honor – Andrick Poon
23rd Honor – Alexandria Ysabelle Dysangco
24th Honor – Therese Joy Obongen Ogo
25th Honor – Annieskha F. Arreza
26th Honor – Jasmine Meleana Deleon Guerrero
27th Honor – Lance Jericho Albuen Javier
28th Honor – Michael Q. Mercado, Jr.
29th Honor – Mikaehla Paige Reyes Mendoza
30th Honor – Joseph Brandon Reyes Pangelinan
31st Honor – Zion Jude Cing Cabrera
32nd Honor – Nyla-Jordan Nie Deleon Guerrero
8th grade special awards
Citizenship Award – Oscar Bien Reyes Buenaflor
Leadership Award – Therese Joy Obongen Ogo
Principal’s Award – William Matthew B. Cano
For more information about Mount Carmel School, visit www.mountcarmelsaipan.com
Mount Carmel School conferred 52 diplomas during her traditional commencement ceremony for the graduating class of 2022.
Mount Carmel School conferred 55 diplomas during her traditional commencement ceremony for the promoted eighth-grade class of 2022.
Mount Carmel School’s kindergarten graduates proudly sang the CNMI and national anthems during a traditional promotion ceremony at the Mount Carmel Cathedral.
Mount Carmel School’s kindergarten graduates walked down the aisle with pride after their promotion ceremony on June 2, 2022.
Mount Carmel School’s valedictorian Aleia Carlinne Hofschneider Santos gave her valedictory address during the school’s 2022 commencement ceremony on June 4, 2022.
Mount Carmel School’s salutatorian Richard Jesus Mafnas Villagomez is awarded the Class of 1990 Scholarship during the school’s 2022 commencement ceremony on June 4, 2022.
Mount Carmel School’s 8th-grade class valedictorian William Matthew B. Cano gives his valedictory address during the school’s 2022 promotion ceremony on June 4, 2022.
Mount Carmel School’s 8th-grade salutatorian Valerie Anne Rivera Estella gives her salutatorian address during the school’s 2022 promotion ceremony on June 4, 2022.
Mount Carmel School’s kindergarten students perform for their families at the end of the school’s kindergarten promotion ceremony on June 2, 2022.
Mount Carmel School student Oscar Bien Reyes Buenaflor receives his diploma during the school’s 8th-grade promotion ceremony on June 4, 2022.
Mount Carmel School student Kiana Lei Manglona Propst receives her diploma during the school’s 12th-grade commencement ceremony on June 4, 2022.
Mount Carmel School student Jefferey Yue Sheu receives his diploma during the school’s 12th-grade commencement ceremony on June 4, 2022.
