This year’s valedictorian as well as recipient of the Board of Education Award was Alvijane Joy Manabat.
Holley Melchor, the class’s salutatorian, received the Commissioner’s Award.
The two were honored on Saturday during the graduation ceremony at the gym.
Also receiving their awards on that day were Student Council President Francisco DeLeon Guerrero, Governor’s Award; and Jason Charles Pangelinan, Principal’s Award.
The top 10 students were Michelle Marie Santos, Olivia Leung, Mi Ri Kim, Kathleen Basa, Krystal Anade, Eileen Echaluse, Dowen Jocson, Grace Lee, Holley Melchor, and Alvijane Manabat.
MHS Principal Craig Garrison opened the ceremony with his welcoming remarks.
Board of Education Chairwoman Marylou S. Ada and Commissioner of Education Rita A. Sablan delivered their congratulatory remarks.
Yasuo Miyazawa, founder of Seisa group of schools in Japan and 25 year partner with MHS faculty and students, flew in from Japan to make the keynote address.
After receiving their diplomas and turning their tassels, the graduates joined together in chorus to present their senior song, “Today My Life Begins.”
On Friday, Rochelle Dimapilis received the Mayor’s Award for her extensive community service and volunteer work.
The Outstanding Female Graduate Award was presented to Olivia Espeleta Leung.
The U.S. Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Awards went to Edward Aldan Manalili and Brittany Santos Sablan.
Recipients of the U.S. Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award were Kimiko Wally and Ernesto Hidalgo III.
The Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence was presented to John Ronald Darag and Alvijane Joy Manabat
Samantha A’ani Birmingham Babauta received the highly coveted Gates Millennium Scholarship.
Other scholarship recipients were Ignacio C. Dela Cruz, Joeten Enterprises scholarship; Grace Lee and Marie Fraince Javier, Saipan Chamber of Commerce scholarship; Rochelle Lynn Dimapilis and Dowen Jocson, Thespian Chapter scholarship; and Jason Pangelinan, Mr. Dolphin Scholarship.
Department Content Area Awards were presented to Denicia Avendano and Grace Lee for language; for language other than English, awards were presented to Holley Williams Melchor for Japanese and Rima Halaby for Spanish; Holley Williams Melchor and Marie Fraince Javier for mathematics; Ji Hye Choi and Alvijane Joy Manabat for science; Alvijane Joy Manabat and Dowen Jocson for social studies; Christine Shaunte Tudela and Joseph Aquino Jucutan for physical education; Peter Michael Tenorio and Ignacio Joaquin Dela Cruz for career and technical education: Eileen Gail Echaluse and Virbon Frial for JROTC: and Bryan Jose DLG, Christine Tokiko Rengiil, June Hee Bae, Carlane Castro, and Dowen Jocson for fine arts.
Certificates of initial mastery were given to Rozette Fate Bunao, Bryan Jose Deleon Guerrero, Rochelle Dimapilis, Nikki Ivee Ibarra, Richard Matsuyama, Donna Monton, Christine Tokiko Regiil, and Panidta Torres for master in fine arts-art; Brigette Dulfo master in fine arts-drama; Vira Starr Cucal master in fine arts-music; Maryanne Camacho, Justin Casama, Lovely Diestro, Richard Mendiola, Brittany Sablan, Jesse Yamagishi, master in fine arts-video production; Jane Correa and Kimiko Ysaol Wally master in fine arts-yearbook; Sheralin Ann Guerrero, Kory Champagne Sablan, master in fine arts and career technical education; Jonavin Ryan Ichihara, Lira Rachelle Lizama, Maria Krizel Reyes, Lucy Lisa Sardea, Jesper Yap, master in career technical education; Quayla Taitano, master in career technical education-business; Donna Crisostomo, Daniel Ezekiel Omar, master in career technical education-computer; and Tin Yan Kwok master in technical education- food and nutrition.
Certificates of initial mastery in digital media technology were presented to Kevin John De Torres, Leopoldo Duenas Jr., Christian V. Hidalgo, John Denmark Lizardo, and Andy Tse.
Gregorio Duatin, Keone Macaranas, Robert Villagomez received certificates of initial master in auto mechanics while Mark Deala and Peter Michael Tenorio received certificates of initial mastery in body and fender.
Other awards were the Presidential Academic Fitness Award-Gold, which had 32 recipients; Presidential Academic Fitness Award-Silver, 64 recipients; and the school spirit award, 19 recipients.
