THE Western Pacific Maritime Academy on Saturday graduated 47 midshipmen from public high schools, Da’ok Academy and the Workforce Investment Agency.
WPMA is a non-profit corporation that provides maritime training. It serves high school students and CNMI seafarers who wish to upgrade their merchant marine credentials.
From Marianas High School, the graduating midshipmen were Darlyn Atalig, Jiang Banatlao, Peaches Bayot, Jacob Calvo, Josh Reyes and Hayden Sablan.
Elicyn Aguon Presto, Raymond Borden, Colton Cruz, Zachary Dafrow, Stanley Delia, Marvin Reyes, Leanalyn Reyes, Robbie Salita, Michael Tomokane, Francisco Villagomez and Kenshiro Yanai were from Kagman High School.
The graduating midshipmen from Saipan Southern High School were Alwayne Aldan, Yu Ling Chai, Draeshia Manglona, Matthew Peters and Shyleen Santos.
From Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Jr./Sr. High School, the graduating midshipmen were Alwayne Bermeo, Freya Greathouse, Son Joe Manuel, Jonathan Mereb, Perry Mesngon II, Sophia Songsong and John Tobonganua.
Noah Cepeda, Jaydoria Cruz, Annabel Kiyoshi, Devyani Pandey, Redenald Patio, Moses Reyes and Hong Zang were the graduating midshipmen from Tinian Jr./Sr. High School.
Da’ok Academy’s midshipmen graduates included Frank Baza, Landon Delos Reyes, Canfrancia Fitial, Juan Inos and Tristan Manglona.
Christian Alepuyo, Michael Busby, Schneider Lanzo, Meagan Smith, Robert Smith and Kayona Takami were the midshipmen graduates from WIA.
WPMA’s executive director, Capt. Michael W. Bacher, said the 47 graduates are “going up” from midshipmen status to professional mariners. The event was significant for the graduating midshipmen because “they are going to have a way to make great money to support their family,” he said.
He added that the graduation is also a huge victory for the CNMI because the new mariners’ wages will pay the cost of their education in the first year of their work. The academy, he said, is doing a great thing not only for the mariners but also for the CNMI.
In his opening remarks, Bacher expressed gratitude to the WPMA board of trustees and staff, to the officials of the CNMI government both in the executive branch and the Legislature, the Board of Education, the parents and the industry that are going to hire the graduates, the principals and counselors of high schools, Da’ok, the WIA and Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, who has recognized the program’s success and now wants to forge similar partnerships with other organizations to create more career and technical education programs.
To the graduates, Bacher said, “Today you will become professional mariners.”
He added, “These men and women are the best among the best that you have here on Saipan. They really are. Because they are going to be the ones who are going to support your economy for many, many years in the future.”
WPMA “will not let you lose. We will help you get good-paying jobs so that you will make a difference to yourself, your family, your community and to CNMI,” he added.
He said the investment in their education through WPMA cost about $5,000 per individual. As an entry-level mariner, they can earn $7,000 a month or $60,000 a year, and that means “through your income taxes, you will pay off the investments in your education in your first month of work.”
The special guest speaker, Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero, told the graduates, “You make this day a very, very special day.” She said they are the outcome of the federal monies that the CNMI received for education and workforce development.
“It is you that we are pushing for all the time,” she said. “We make sure that we, as facilitators of those programs, manage the funds properly and invest them properly for the intended recipients. We are mandated by law to make sure that we lift them out of poverty, that we give them the best opportunity, and that we make sure that they get the best education and training.”
“What is most important and humbling,” she added, “is our deep desire to see our people succeed and to make sure that we truly invest and see the return of these invested dollars in our people to make sure that their lives are much better than today, and for their families to have a better life and higher living standard as well.”
For his part, the keynote speaker, Military Sealift Command Counsel Tim Murphy, said the most important asset of the MSC is its civilian mariners. These women and men employed by the MSC are the heart of the command, and without them, there will be no MSC, he said.
To the 2024 WPMA graduates, Murphy said, “The study and hard work you put in are worth it.”
Education Commissioner Camacho, in his closing remarks, applauded Bacher for his hard work in ensuring that the 47 individuals get their certification so they can serve the maritime community.
Camacho said it takes a village to raise a child. “And this village of ours, the community partners, the parents, all the friends and supporters of our midshipmen, have a remarkable story to tell.”
“As I sit here and witness the fine achievements of these midshipmen,” he said, he remembered his grandfather, Gregorio T. Camacho, who provided him with many lessons that still resonate today. He said these include the importance of education and why the United States will continue to be blessed because it is a great nation promoting democracy across the world.
“You are committing to something more special and greater than yourself — it is committing to a great nation,” Camacho said.
“Take that oath of office with all seriousness,” he added.
Also attending the graduation ceremony were Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez, Rep. Vicente Camacho, Rep. Manny Gregory T. Castro, Rep. Julie Ogo, Saipan Mayor Ramon Blas “RB” Camacho and Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan.
Western Pacific Maritime Academy Executive Director Capt. Michael Bacher administers the oath of office to 47 graduating midshipmen during a ceremony at the American Memorial Park Court of Honor on Saturday.
Military Sealift Command Counsel Tim Murphy delivers his keynote address.
Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero delivers her remarks.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho delivers the closing remarks.
