This year’s Governor’s Humanities Award recipients were Angelina Yobech, Outstanding Humanities Teacher; Dr. Jennifer McKinnon, Preservation of NMI History; Joaquin I. Norita, Preservation of Traditional Cultural Practices; and the Northern Marianas Judiciary Society, Research & Publication in the Humanities.
On behalf of Gov. Benigno Fitial, Press Secretary Angel Demapan delivered a short speech to recognize the achievements of the awardees.
“The governor continues to ensure his full support to the Humanities Council and its efforts and mission of fostering awareness, understanding and appreciation of the humanities for the educational programs,” Demapan said.
The governor is very impressed with the variety of the council’s projects promoting the humanities in the CNMI, he added.
The first place winners of the 8th Sengebau Poetry Competition in the junior and senior divisions delivered their poetry pieces during the ceremony.
NMI Humanities Council Executive Director Scott Russell and Board Chairwoman Tracy M. Guerrero, for their part, expressed their gratitude to the supporters of the humanities.
Guerrero, in an interview, said they will continue to recognize individuals who contribute a lot in helping preserve local traditions, culture and the humanities.
No Lifetime Achievement Award was given out this year because there were no nominations.
About the awardees
Angelina Yobech has been using literacy to empower families for over 13 years as one of the first certified parent trainers for the CNMI’s Motheread program.
Yobech leads groups of parents through 16 hours of training over eight weeks, taught 29 Motheread cycles and dedicated over 232 weeks and 464 hours to promote literacy in the CNMI, and has shown 381 parents who to create stimulating learning environments in their homes.
Dr. Jennifer McKinnon was the driving force behind the World War II Maritime Heritage Trail which chronicled a history of the Battle of Saipan using nine popular dive sites. She secured funding for the project which resulted to the availability of the heritage trail now for tourists and residents to learn abouthistory in a unique way.
The late Joaquin I. Norita, a teacher for over 20 years on Rota, promoted and practiced traditional medicinal healing. He was also a talented musician and song writer who recorded two indigenous language albums “Flores Rosa” and “Ha Dingo Ham Sin Adios.”
The Northern Marianas Judiciary Historical Society published and distributed “A Historical Overview” in 2011, a book that details the history of the islands’ legal structures and the evolution of the rule of law in the commonwealth. The book features a large number of collaborators, including respected local and regional scholars who covered each colonial era.
