From left, William Hunter, Lili Duan, Barbara Hunter, Malyssa Castro and David Attao.
(NMC) — Northern Marianas College has announced the recipients of its 2024 Annual PROA Employee Awards, which honor employees for their outstanding performance, contributions to NMC, and commitment to student learning.
The selection of the awardees was made by a committee composed of staff and faculty. The awards were presented during the CNMI government agency-wide Labor Day picnic at the Garapan Fishing Base on Sunday.
William Hunter, the college’s Distance Learning Education coordinator, is NMC’s overall Employee of the Year and the Non-Instructional Faculty of the Year.
According to nomination committee members, Hunter is an innovative individual who is passionate about his work. He is known for his steadfast work ethic, calm demeanor, and respectfulness, always going above and beyond to provide hands-on assistance in resolving problems.
Lili “Rita” Duan, NMC’s grants coordinator, is the college’s Staff of the Year.
Her colleagues regard her as someone who consistently exceeds expectations. She possesses strong leadership qualities, including empathy and effective communication skills. Duan is recognized for her organizational skills and ability to multitask while keeping students’ needs in mind.
Dr. Barbara Hunter, the interim director for NMC’s School of Business, has been recognized as the Faculty of the Year.
Her peers noted her genuine care for her students and her team. Dr. Hunter is described as passionate about her profession, motivated by her students, and committed to the college’s mission of cultivating stewardship through scholarship.
Malyssa Castro, a student support counselor from Project PROA, is NMC’s Counselor of the Year.
Her colleagues describe Castro as a passionate and approachable counselor who has implemented various initiatives to help students succeed. She is dedicated to her role and is regarded as a valuable resource for students, embodying a positive attitude in all her endeavors and aligning with the College’s vision of enhancing learning for all.
David J. Attao, the college’s Chief Financial Officer, is this year’s Supervisor of the Year.
Attao is credited with leading NMC to a clean financial audit with no findings this fiscal year. His peers recognize him as the “epitome of finance,” noting his solution-oriented approach and effective collaboration with employees to ensure stability at NMC.
