Eleventh graders at Kagman High School welcome Marianas Visitors Authority Community Projects Coordinator Sherman Santos, front row second right, and Marianas Tourism Education Council Board Member Catherine Perry, front row right, who visited the school in Kagman, Saipan, on June 4, 2025, to teach fundamentals of The Marianas tourism economy and how students can support the industry. This school year MVA and MTEC visited 21 public schools on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
MVA photo
(MVA) — The Marianas Tourism Education Council and Marianas Visitors Authority wrapped up their school presentations this school year with a visit to Kagman High School on Wednesday, June 4. In total, the education team has visited all 21 public schools on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, highlighting The Marianas’ primary economic driver, tourism.
“MTEC is grateful for the support from MVA, the Marianas stakeholders, and the businesses,” said MTEC Chairwoman Vicky Benavente, who has also taught a Hospitality class at Kagman High School for the last two years. “The MTEC educational outreach program has been in place for nearly twenty years. We’ve seen the transformation of the students with regards to their level of understanding the importance of the tourism industry.”
With emphasis on this year’s theme, “Planting Peace-Manånånum Pås-Ffóttol llol Tipiyeew,” the presentation shared basic facts about The Marianas tourism economy, visitor profiles and activities, the work of MVA, and how and why students can help support the industry beginning at a young age.
“MTEC remains an important partner of MVA in educating and inspiring our young people in ways they also are part of tourism in The Marianas,” said MVA Managing Director Jamika R. Taijeron. “We extend a huge thank to the principals for welcoming us again this year, to the teachers and MY WAVE Club advisors for actively supporting our efforts, and especially to the students. From the friendliness and respect they extend to visitors today, to the careers and leadership roles they will have in the future, young people are valuable contributors to MVA’s goal of building a sustainable tourism industry for The Marianas.”
MY WAVE — or Marianas Youth Welcome All Visitors Enthusiastically — Clubs engage students in tourism-related activities. Students at Kagman High has the opportunity to create a brief tour itinerary based on their own recommended place to eat, a recommended activity, and a recommended site to visit.
MTEC is a non-profit organization whose mission is three-fold: to foster community understanding and support of the visitor industry; to educate the public, especially school students, about the value, social benefits, and economic contributions made to the community by the visitor industry; and to instill, improve, and promote the “Hafa Adai-Tirow” hospitality spirit throughout the island community.
For more information about MTEC, contact MVA Community Projects Coordinator Jack Aranda at communityprojects@mymarianas.com or (670) 664-3200/1.
