Cherita Yangirelfil, 18, said her parents and older sister have been her inspiration.
Besides getting the school’s highest honor, she was also the recipient of the OFEGRA, or Women’s Affairs Office, Award.
Min Sol Kim was this year’s recipient of the second highest honor, the Commissioner’s Award.
In her valedictory address, Yangirelfil told her fellow graduates that even though life is hard, no one has the power to take them down or ridicule them about the things they want to accomplish.
“For me, today is when I let go, but I know it’s going to be hard letting go of something that has been a part of me for four years — something that’s been my comfort, my second home, and my family. But because of my family, my Manta family, I know I cam make it out there,” she said.
The manta ray is the school’s mascot.
The rest of the top 10 students were Raissa Belle Alarca Ferrer, Jenny Ann Ecalnea, John James G. Taman, Michelle Delos Trino Averion, Shawn Michael Alcantara Cruz, Janina Maratita, Thomas DLC. Manglona and Min Seok Vincent Choi.
Janina Maratita received the Governor’s Award while Jenny Ann Ecalnea is the recipient of the Mayor’s Award.
The Principal’s Award was given to Shawn Michael Alcantara Cruz while the PTA Council Award went to Janina Maratita.
Leading the presentation of awards were Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan, Board of Education Chairwoman Lucia Blanco-Maratita, BOE Vice Chair Herman T. Guerrero, BOE member Galvin Deleon Guerrero and BOE student representative Francine Babauta.
According to an exit survey, Sablan said 62 of the 96 graduates have decided to enroll at Northern Marianas College while 21 want to study abroad.
She said 13 graduates already have jobs while 13 will join the armed forces.
Kathryn Barry, IT&E regional marketing manager, was the keynote speaker.
She encouraged the graduates to lend their time and talents to community service whenever they come back to the commonwealth.
She emphasized the importance of volunteerism, saying that what they will give away will return to them in more ways than they expect.
She told the graduates to be always persistent and creative.
Success, she added, will be achieved by those who act and plan.
“Never stop learning from others around you,” she said.
