Kagman High School graduate Davin Nekaifes, center, receives a $1,000 scholarship from the Marianas Tourism Education Council on June 13, 2025, at Aqua Resort Club Saipan in San Roque, Saipan. From left, Marianas Visitors Authority Community Project Coordinator Jack Aranda, MVA Community Projects Manager and MTEC Secretary Martin Duenas, MTEC Board Chairwoman Benavente, Nekaifes, Zina Nekaifes, MTEC Treasurer Larrisa Larson, and MTEC Board Member Catherine Perry.
MVA photo
(MVA) — Kagman High School graduate Davin Nekaifes was awarded a $1,000 scholarship by the Marianas Tourism Education Council on Friday, June 13.
Nekaifes served as president of the Kagman High MY WAVE Club — which engages students in tourism-related activities — for three years of high school before graduating early this year. The award was presented by the MTEC board of directors at a luncheon for Nekaifes and his mother at Aqua Resort Club Saipan
“Tourism is really the biggest part of our island economy, and it’s really important that our high school kids know that without the tourists, our islands are not really at our peak,” said Nekaifes.
Under his three-year leadership, the MY WAVE Club conducted a variety of activities, including beach cleanups, CNMI Cultural Day, restorative planting with Northern Marianas College, club fundraising, and the annual MTEC Tourism Summit. Nekaifes said his favorite summit over the last three years was in 2024 when students took a tour of major tourist sites in Marpi
“MY WAVE is really fun. I feel that the best thing I experienced is learning more about our island and our economy,” said Nekaifes. “I really enjoyed that there is an organization to reinforce the knowledge that our people should already know — our history.”
Nekaifes was endorsed to the scholarship committee by KHS MY WAVE Club Advisor Jack Kiyoshi.
“Throughout his time at KHS, he has been known to be respectful and reliable among his peers, teachers, and the KHS staff,” Kiyoshi stated in a recommendation letter. “Davin displays a high level of motivation, being driven and determined.”
The MTEC Scholarship Program awards an annual scholarship for a qualified high school graduate who has been a member of a school MY WAVE Club in high school.
“We’re not only rewarding students for taking part in MYWAVE, we’re rewarding them for having the initiative to go off and further their education,” said MTEC Chairwoman Vicky Benavente. “We want to give these kids a chance to pursue higher education so that they can come back and help our islands.”
Nekaifes has been accepted to the University of Hawaii at Manoa
