ELAINE Hocog Orilla was sworn in Friday by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres to serve on the Northern Marianas College board of regents representing Rota.
Orilla is a re-appointee and has served on the board for more than 16 years. The Senate confirmed her re-nomination on July 22, 2022.
She earned an associate’s degree from NMC, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Guam, and took graduate-level courses to earn certification in school guidance, counseling, and school administration.
She has taught, led, and mentored countless students in the Public School System and NMC as a teacher and counselor.
During a public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Executive Appointment and Government Investigations in the Rota mayor’s conference room at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 13, Orilla said she values the education of the CNMI community and its children, adding that she looks forward to continuing to serve on the NMC board.
Orilla said it is her dream to see all NMC campuses throughout the CNMI become fully functional and with the accreditation and the funding they each need.
She noted that there have been ongoing discussions among the NMC regents, president, and program leaders regarding having each of the islands’ campuses specialize in certain fields: for example, the Tinian campus will focus on the cattle industry while the Rota campus highlights farming or fishing industries.
During the Senate committee hearing, NMC President Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero, on behalf of the board of regents and himself, spoke to Orilla’s experience and qualifications on the board.
“There’s no mistaking Ms. Orilla’s impact on and commitment to education,” he said. “Given her rich legacy as a lifelong educator, it is no understatement that she has raised generations of leaders in government, business, and community, many of whom fondly remember her as one of their favorite teachers.”
Also expressing support for Orilla’s re-appointment were NMC Office of the President Chief of Staff Kevin Bautista, Rota mayor Efraim Atalig, Rota mayor’s office Press Secretary Ivan Mereb Jr., 18th Municipal Council Secretary James Atalig, former NMC-Rota director Martin T. Mendiola, former NMC instructor Aubry Hocog, and CNMI Scholarship Office board member Diana B. Hocog.
No oral or written testimonies were submitted in opposition to Orilla’s renomination.
Elaine H. Orilla shakes hands with Gov. Ralph DLG Torres on Friday after being sworn in as the Northern Marianas College regent representing Rota.
