(NMC) — Northern Marianas College President Galvin Deleon Guerrero, EdD, released the following statement regarding the recent pause of funding for the NextGEN scholarship program:
“We thank Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds for her advocacy in elevating this matter to the White House, especially due to the severe impact the suspension of funding will have on recipients of the NextGEN scholarship. However, despite our close work with Delegate King-Hinds and our federal partners, we learned this morning that Northern Marianas College was still unable to draw down funds from the United States Department of Agriculture.
“Given how critical these funds are for our students, after engaging the College’s leadership to identify funds, I made the decision to release NextGEN scholarship funds using alternative funding sources to the scholarship recipients for the current term.
“As I shared with these scholarship recipients, we could not risk jeopardizing their student achievement and, more importantly, their immediate livelihood. We needed to take steps to ensure they can focus on their academic pursuits towards careers that will directly benefit our islands when they return home to contribute to our economic development.
“However, we are not in the clear because we are still unable to draw down funds from the USDA. We must continue working closely with our federal partners for the long-term sustainability of the program, namely to be able to access duly approved funds for the grant.
“At the end of the day, Northern Marianas College remains committed to helping all our students succeed.”
About the NextGEN Program at NMC
The NextGen Scholarship Program, funded by the US Department of Agriculture – Natural Institute of Food and Agriculture NextGen Workforce Initiative, is specifically tailored to focus on creating a regenerative workforce for insular communities. This initiative provides a unique opportunity for learners pursuing degrees in food science, agriculture, natural resource management, agritourism, and related disciplines. The grant is implemented by NMC-CREES.
Alongside receiving financial support, students of the program are also provided counseling support, access to summer academies, internships, and mentorship opportunities.
