FIFTEEN high school students on Sunday morning received their certificates for completing the certified nursing assistant summer program conducted by the Guam Marianas Training Center.
Of the 15, 13 are from Saipan, one from Tinian and one from Rota.
The students from Saipan are Aira Apilado, Christine Byen, Jerisha Deleon Guerrero, Ye Jin Ha, Windy Lu, Eli Lumbana, Janelle Maigue, Trisha McCarthy, Ayesha Mustansar, Juliana Nicole Rivera, Te’ana Jolie Sablan Torres, John Eman Tuquero and Irin Shaira Valle. The Tinian and Rota students are Chit Acollador and Tammy Joy B. Fernandez.
They received their certificates in the Royal Taga Hall of Saipan World Resort at 10 a.m. Sunday.
The certified nursing assistant program ran from June 28 to Aug. 3 and was a partnership between the Public School System-Career and Technical Education or CTE program and GMTC.
The program provided students with 160 hours of instruction and hands-on experience in basic nursing skills, personal care skills and safety and emergency care issues.
In his remarks to students, Education Commissioner Alfred B. Ada said, “You are among the frontline workers in this pandemic, and you are gold.”
He said that as he sat and watch the students march to the stage to receive their certificates, “I couldn’t help but feel so proud to really be able to see the vision becoming a reality.”
Ada said it was seven years ago when a conversation about the program started among education officials.
Fe Valencia-Ovalles, the chief executive officer of GMTC, said the summer program would not have happened without the support of PSS.
She commended the students for working hard and congratulated them and their families.
One of the program participants, Ayesha Mustansar, said she considers herself “extremely fortunate to be a member of this group.”
She told GMTC and CNMI education officials, “I can’t thank you enough for everything you have done for students.”
The program is a great opportunity for students who want to pursue a career in healthcare, she said, “and the most important thing is, all or most of us are just high school students — isn’t that great?”
Also attending the completion ceremony were Board of Education Vice Chairman Herman Atalig, GMTC executive director Frankie Lake and instructors Jojo Lazaro and Vivian Concepcion, both of whom are registered nurses.
Education Commissioner Alfred B. Ada, Board of Education Vice Chairman Herman Atalig, Guam Marianas Training Center Chief Executive Officer Fe Valencia-Ovalles, other educators and GMTC officials pose with the participants of the recently concluded Public School System-GMTC certified nursing assistant summer program at Saipan World Resort on Sunday.
Education Commissioner Alfred B. Ada, left, speaks while Guam Marianas Training Center Chief Executive Officer Fe Valencia-Ovalles listens during the completion ceremony for the certified nursing assistant summer program at Saipan World Resort on Sunday.
Guam Marianas Training Center Chief Executive Officer Fe Ovalles delivers her remarks during the completion ceremony for the certified nursing assistant summer program at Saipan World Resort on Sunday.
