Rota junior-senior high school promotes 35, graduates 37

DOCTOR Rita Hocog Inos Jr.-Sr. High School on Rota graduated 37 high school seniors and promoted 35 eighth graders.

The promotion ceremony was held Monday morning while the graduation ceremony was held in the afternoon.

Of the 35 promoted eighth graders, Rianna Isa Tuazon Barcinas was named valedictorian and Board of Education awardee.

BOE Chairman Gregory Pat Borja, Vice Chairman Antonio L. Borja, and Secretary/Treasurer Maisie B. Tenorio joined Rota BOE member Herman Atalig and student representative to the BOE Jed Sta. Theresa in presenting the award and celebrating the Rota public school students’ academic successes.

The salutatorian is Lovelee Zhene Balidad Jingco who received the Commissioner of Education Award from Education Commissioner Dr.  Alfred B. Ada and the Public School System’s senior directors: Jackie Quitugua (instructional services), Dr. Yvonne Pangelinan (student support services), and Dr. Rizalina Liwag (accountability research and evaluation).

School Principal D. Tanya King and Vice Principal Annette Calvo presented the Principal’s Award to Aiden Chonne Hocog Calvo.

The rest of the top 10 promotees are Jelina Renee Aldis Calvo, Eianne Miel Mangalindan Ladao, Carlos Antonio Atalig Calvo, Edward Ulloa Maratatita III, Ngiraibai Bernard Takawo, Danica Lovidad Malaborbor, and Lorenzo Zyler Curameng Hocog.

Subject awards

Valedictorian Rianna Isa Tuazon Barcinas also received the subject awards for English, Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Leadership Corps, Physical Education and Career Exploration/Fine Arts. She also received the Mayor of Rota Award.

Salutatorian Lovelee Zhene Balidad Jingco received the subject awards for Science, Social Studies, Leadership Corps and Career Exploration-Fine Arts.

The Municipal Council or Most Improved Award went to Zayden Castro Atalig.

Carlos Atalig Calvo received the subject awards for Social Studies, Leadership Corps, and Career Exploration-Fine Arts.

Jelina Renee Aldis Calbo received the subject awards for Social Studies, Leadership Corps, Physical Education and Career Exploration-Fine Arts.

Edward Ulloa Maratita III received the subject awards for Social Studies, Leadership Corps and Physical Education.

Eianne Miel Mangalindan Ladao received the subject awards for Chamorro, Computer and Career Exploration-Fine Arts.

Danice Lovidad Malaborbor received the subject award for Career Exploration-Fine Arts.

Ngiraibai Bernard Takawo received the Career Exploration-Fine Arts award.

High school graduates

Of the 37 high school seniors, Cevon Atalig Calvo graduated at the top of her class.   She is also the recipient of the Board of Education Award which was presented to her by BOE Chairman Gregory Pat Borja, Vice Chairman Antonio L. Borja, Secretary/Treasurer Maisie B. Tenorio, Rota Board Member Herman Atalig and student representative to the BOE Jed Sta. Theresa.

She likewise received the Governor’s Award which was presented by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres himself, and the Rota Mayor’s Award which was presented by Mayor Erfraim Atalig.

The class salutatorian is Namiko Nani Mendiola Calvo who  received the Commissioner of Education Award from Education Commissioner Dr. Alfred Ada and PSS’ three senior directors — Jackie Quitugua, Dr. Yvonne Pangelinan and Dr. Rizalina Liwag

In addition, the salutatorian received the Lt. Governor’s Award from Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, and the Outstanding Female Graduate Award.

The Principal’s Award was presented by School Principal D. Tanya King and Vice Principal Annette Calvo to   BOE student representative Jed Sta. Theresa who also received the BOE Service Recognition Award from Board of Education Chairman Gregory Pat Borja, Vice Chairman Antonio Borja, Secretary-Treasurer Maisie Tenorio, and Rota member Herman Atalig.

Other top graduates

The other top high school graduates are Hannah Mejia Nerizon, Angela Ann Presas Guiang, Viera Nicole Hocog Atalig, Necimo George Cotas Atalig and Zolekha Liz Sayal Dewan.

The Most Improved Award, which was presented by members of the 18th Rota Municipal Council, went to Jerony Jay Mendiola Pinaula.

That is the question

In her valedictory address, Cevon Atalig Calvo asked her peers, “What are you searching for?”

With the anime character Luffy as her inspiration, she asked: “[Do you want] to be a nurse, a teacher, a farmer? [Do you want to create] your own happy family? It is up to you…. And it is up to you to take the initiative to go after it, just like Luffy…. But he did not do it alone, he surrounded himself with a crew that supported and believed in him.”

She added, “I would like to thank my crew. Thank you to my family for their support and valuable advice that has shaped me as a person. Thank you to my friends for the memories we created together throughout high school. Thank you to my three advisors for believing in me and my fellow graduates, and putting their time and efforts into our success. Thank you also to those who have supported me, one way or another.”

She will attend Northern Marianas College before transferring to Oregon State University where she plans to major in business with a minor in interior design.

Very difficult

Salutatorian Namiko Nanin Mendiola Calvo, in her address, said: “The past two years have been very difficult and life-changing for many people in the CNMI and around the world. However, it was even more difficult for our class since we didn’t even know whether or not we would be up on this stage today.”

“Now, today, we are all on this stage because of all of our hard work, determination, and willingness to never give up. This pandemic may have taken away a lot of things from us, but I’m glad it didn’t take away this very important milestone in our lives.”

Tribute

School Principal D. Tanya King, in her remarks, thanked the Board of Education “for sincerely ensuring employee and student safety and learning in every mode possible…in the best interest of those who mean the  most to PSS – the students”

She also expressed appreciation to Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred B. Ada and PSS management “for supporting Rota at every juncture of the way as [it] ventured uncharted and unprecedented waters during Covid-19.”

She likewise thanked RHI’s staff and parents as well as “feeder schools”, referring to Rota’s private schools for “their support.”

Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred B. Ada, in his remarks, reminded the graduating seniors to challenge themselves further.

He also paid tribute to his inspiration and former mentor, the late former Commissioner of Education Dr. Rita Hocog Inos.

“Rota’s very own [daughter] was the one who encouraged and inspired me to pursue higher education while I was working as [vice principal] at William Reyes Elementary School (in Saipan). She was the one who…said: ‘You can do it, Alfred…pursue a doctorate in education and everything will follow.’ ”

“Your school’s name holds a very special place in me,” the commissioner told the students.

BOE Chairman Gregory Pat Borja praised the graduates for “showing what it takes to succeed despite the many challenges” they faced during the past four years.

Rota BOE member Herman Atalig told the high school seniors: “You are surrounded and blessed by the presence of both our elected and education leaders…because they are here, with your family and school community, to celebrate and honor your accomplishment.”