DIANA Benavente Hocog was recently sworn in by Governor Ralph DLG Torres to serve on the CNMI Scholarship Office board of directors.
Hocog is a re-appointee to the board and also serves as director at the Northern Marianas College-Rota campus. Her nomination was confirmed by the Senate on July 22, 2022.
During the public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigation at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 14, in the Rota mayor’s conference room, Hocog said it has been her pleasure to be a CSO board member for the CNMI Scholarship Office for the past two years.
“I’ve worked alongside some incredibly intelligent ladies, dealing with matters that affect our college students who are recipients of the CNMI scholarship. As an employee of a higher education institution, I can see how it is important to align programs and policies that work for students that seek financial assistance for their education,” she said.
She added, “It is my vision that I continue to work together with the administrator of the [CSO] and the rest of the board members to ensure that we are providing high quality and up-to-date programs that are beneficial to our students.”
CSO Administrative Manager Carmen Sablan, on behalf of CSO Administrator Mildred C. Sablan-Camacho, said Hocog has contributed to the continued growth and improvement of the office and its programs.
She said Hocog has demonstrated true leadership and commitment during her time on the board and is confident that she will continue to do the same.
“Her leadership and commitment to higher education is a testimony of her desire to improve the quality of education and workforce for the CNMI,” Sablan said.
NMC President Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero, who has known Hocog since she was in high school, said he is confident that Hocog will continue to serve the CNMI well.
“In the classroom, Diana distinguished herself as an inquisitive student who was just as committed to learning new things as getting good grades. Outside of the classroom, Diana was involved in numerous extracurricular activities, including the drama program that I advised. I can honestly say that it was hardworking, curious, and kind students like her that inspired me to dedicate my entire professional life to education,” he said.
“Since high school, Diana has carried her work ethic, curiosity, and kindness wherever she goes. Professionally, she has worked in occupations as diverse as finance, childcare, and leadership. Outside of work, she has continued her extracurricular involvement in equally diverse areas such as the Marianas March Against Cancer, Empty Vessel Ministry, and even the Top Chef Competition.
“In each of these roles, Diana has continued to work hard, learn new things, and treat everyone with kindness. This is why, when I became president at [NMC], I was happy to have the opportunity to work with her yet again,” he said.
As interim director for NMC’s Rota site, Hocog has done so much for the college, especially the Rota community, Deleon Guerrero said.
“She has pushed the college to partner with various organizations to diversify and expand what the college has to offer. As a result, she has enriched her community and the people of Rota with more programs, more services, and more opportunities,” he said.
Challenges
Hocog also received support from 18th Rota Municipal Council Secretary James Atalig, Rota mayor’s office Press Secretary Ivan Mereb Jr., and former NMC instructor Aubry Hocog.
Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan, for his part, encouraged the CSO to tackle the challenges mentioned in their 2021 citizen-centric report, such as the collection of student achievement data, the timely disbursement of scholarships, rethinking the scholarship deadlines, and keeping an up-to-date record of all CSO accounts, including two revolving accounts.
CSO became an autonomous agency in 2013.
Hocog said the collection of student achievement data is hard, given that there are thousands of applicants and recipients and many of them are off-island and hard to reach.
She said the CSO board looks forward to getting a better system that works.
However, she noted that the roughly 90% of recipients who choose to stay abroad are still paying back their scholarships.
Hocog said the CSO has been transitioning fairly well to the Munis system recently implemented by the Department of Finance.
She said the CSO administrator has been doing a great job of advocating for the needs of CNMI scholars, adding that the challenge is really with ensuring that the CSO has the funds needed to disburse to every recipient before the semester begins or ends.
She said although roughly $900,000 was cut from the CSO, it received funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.
According to Hocog, CSO is short on funding for operations and providing financial assistance to CNMI students which has resulted in a notable decline in the number of applicants.
No oral or written testimonies were submitted to the Senate committee in opposition to Hocog’s reappointment.
Diana B. Hocog is sworn in by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres in the governor’s conference room.
