TINIAN Junior-Senior High School on Friday promoted 39 eighth graders and graduated 33 high school seniors.
The promotion ceremony was held in the morning in the school cafeteria while the high school seniors received their diplomas in the afternoon at Jones Beach.
Top 10 eighth graders
Among the newly promoted students, Edmar Timothy Mangubat Tirona, the valedictorian, received the Board of Education Award which was presented by Board of Education Chairman Gregory Pat Borja, Vice Chairman Antonio L. Borja and Secretary/Treasurer Maisie B. Tenorio
Geremy Lim Santos, as class salutatorian, received the Commissioner of Education Award from Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred Ada.
The rest of the top 10 eighth graders were Dylan Calibao Subia (3); Isa Mina Rodriguez Dosalua (4); Ha’nai Darence Dela Cruz Palacios (5); Angelica Joy Sosa Reyes (6); Adriel Roy Fabreag Lenteja (7); Dawn Princess Borja Flores (8); Brandon Jay Cruz Cepeda (9), and Jasper Manibusan Borja, Jr. (10).
Top 10 graduates
Twin sisters Isa Ha’ani Gutierrez Long and Cielo Citlalli Gutierrez Long were valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. Isa Ha’ani is the recipient of the Board of Education Award and the PTSA Award.
For her part, Cielo Citlalli received the Commissioner of Education Award and the Outstanding Female Graduate Recognition Award.
Both sisters have been accepted to Harvard University.
The rest of the top 10 high school graduates were: Peyton Robert Christian (3); Lloyd Aaron Lopez Rivera (4); Matt Edison Salvosa Soliva (5); Malinao Tasi Quitugua Palacios (6); Chit Alain Llanora Acollador (7); Emiliana Anastasia Famaw King (8); Colleen Michelle San Nicolas Cing (9), and Elcy Lizelle Ayuyu John (10).
The Governor’s Award was presented to Lloyd Aaron Rivera by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres while Malinao Tasi Quitugua Palacios received the Lt. Governor’s Award from Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios.
Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan presented the Mayor’s Award to Chi Alain Llanora Acollador.
Matt Edison Salvosa Soliva was the recipient of the School Leadership Award and the 18th Municipal Council Recognition Award.
Harvard-bound
In her valedictory speech, Isa Ha’ani Gutierrez Long said: “Many of you see me standing up here as the top graduate, the class valedictorian, and may think I had the perfect high school experience. I’m a Harvard-bound student with everything figured out, but that is far from the truth.”
She said, “Life is about being kicked to the ground falling on your face and getting right back up.”
She said her setbacks “fueled me to strive for a future of bliss and happiness, a life that I craved. So I studied and studied and studied. I would work my entire junior year, took college courses, signed up for leadership summits and positions, and took online AP classes. I knew where I wanted to go and who I wanted to become, I stopped thinking that the world was against me. The world is never against you, everything only ever happens for you. And, eventually I was able to fulfill the void I had felt with passion found along the way. Passion serving my community and passion for wanting to continue my education. I met wonderful and amazing people along the way and I fell in love with the process and I kept going and I’m still going.”
Salutatorian Cielo Citlalli Gutierrez Long, in her speech, paid tribute to her school community.
“To all the admin who work tirelessly to keep our school up and running, we thank you. To all the teachers who miss family celebrations and gatherings because they’re up all night inputting grades, we thank you. To all the faculty that have lost loved ones or gone through personal struggles, yet still push us to do our best, we thank you. To the maintenance team of TJSHS — we can’t thank you enough for creating a beautiful place for us to learn every single day.”
She also praised her fellow graduates. “I guess my whole purpose of listing down your traits and talents is obviously to boast about our accomplishments as a class, but also so you can realize your greatness doesn’t just stop once these four years end. What I’ve observed over these four years is not just acknowledged by me, but everyone around you. Use what you have to your advantage and build a life that makes you happy, not one that you are just expected to live. “
She likewise honored her parents, Arley and Philip, for being “selfless, and focused so much on giving back and helping people even when they have so much responsibility to take on.”
To her twin sister, the class valedictorian, she had this to say: “There is no stronger bond than with my twin sister. Without you, there is no way I would’ve survived this place. I would have let all the negativity get to me a long time ago. Our whole lives we’ve always been compared. Grades, accomplishments, skills, friends, the list goes on. It’s not easy, but we both handle it so well and I am so grateful that I get to continue my path with her by my side.”
Proud
TJSHS Principal Lizabeth Hofschneider, in her remarks, said she is proud of the Class of 2022.
“This class was one of the easiest classes I have had to teach because you are motivated and many of you worked hard to outpace your friends. At the end of that year, this class outscored the entire CNMI in high school math assessment. You make me very proud. I saw your potential when you were seventh graders,” she said,
BOE Vice Chairman Antonio L. Borja told the graduating seniors: “Today, be proud of how far you have come, but remember the opportunities that are for you to grab.”
He noted that “this year we have graduates that will be attending Harvard University and the Air Force Academy. We have graduates that are aspiring to be engineers and doctors, enlisting in the military, entrepreneurs.
BOE Chairman Gregory Pat Borja, in his remarks, said this year’s seniors “have been challenged by typhoons, a pandemic, and the chore of remote learning during the last few years of your education.”
“But you made it,” he added. “You and your peers in the CNMI Public School System have shown what can be accomplished when you show your determination and dedication to reach your educational goals.”
Commissioner of Education Dr. Ada said the Class of 2022 is a “resilient group” that has “endured hardships.”
“You are capable of executing Plan B when Plan A is no longer an option. You have the power to figure out what to do when opportunities have been taken away from you,” Ada added.
On Saipan, at 9 a.m. Monday, May 15, Francisco M. Sablan Middle School will promote its eighth graders on campus while Marianas High School will hold its Class of 2022 graduation ceremony on campus at 4 p.m.
The top 10 graduates of Tinian High School’s Class of 2022: Isa Ha’ani Gutierrez Long, valedictorian; CIelo Citlalli Gutierrez Long, salutatorian; Peyton Robert Christian (3); Lloyd Aaron Lopez Rivera (4); Matt Edison Salvosa Soliva (5); Malinao Tasi Quitugua Palacios (6); Chit Alain Llanora Acollador (7); Emiliana Anastasia Famaw King (8); Colleen Michelle San Nicolas Cing (9), and Elcy Lizelle Ayuyu John (10). (Story on page 4)
Tinian Jr. High School’s top 10 eighth graders: Edmar Timothy Mangubat Tirona, valedictorian; Geremy Lim Santos, salutatorian; Dylan Calibao Subia (3); Isa Mina Rodriguez Dosalua (4); Ha’nai Darence Dela Cruz Palacios (5); Angelica Joy Sosa Reyes (6); Adriel Roy Fabreag Lenteja (7); Dawn Princess Borja Flores (8); Brandon Jay Cruz Cepeda (9), and Jasper Manibusan Borja, Jr. (10). Also in photo are Board of Education Chairman Gregory Pat Borja, Vice Chairman Antonio L. Borja, Secretary/Treasurer Maisie B. Tenorio, Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred B. Ada, Principal Lizabeth Hofschneider and Vice Principal Nikita Mendiola.
Tinian High School valedictorian Isa Ha’ani Gutierrez Long receives the Board of Education Award from BOE Chairman Gregory Pat Borja and Secretary/Treasurer Maisie B. Tenorio. Also in photo are parents Arley and Philip Mendiola-Long.
Tinian High School salutatorian Cielo Citlalli Gutierrez Long receives the Commissioner of Education Award from Dr. Alfred B. Ada. Also in photo are Cielo’s parents Arley and Philip Mendiola-Long, Associate Commissioner Eric Magofna, Senior Directors Jackie Quitugua and Yvonne R. Pangelinan, and acting Senior Director Marian Tudela.
During the Tinian Jr. High School promotion ceremony for eighth graders, the BOE Award was presented to valedictorian Edmar Timothy Mangubat Tirona by BOE Chairman Gregory Pat Borja, Vice Chairman Antonio L. Borja, and Secretary/Treasurer Maisie B. Tenorio. Also in photo are Tirona’s parent and school Principal Lizabeth Hofschneider and Vice Principal Nikita Mendiola.
The Commissioner of Education Award went to class salutatorian Geremy Lim Santos. With the newly promoted eighth grader are his mother, Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred B. Ada, Principal Lizabeth Hofschneider and Vice Principal Nikita Mendiola.
Tinian High School’s Class of 2022 Governor’s Award recipient was Lloyd Aaron Rivera, who received the award from Gov. Ralph DLG Torres. Rivera’s family joined him on stage.
The Lt. Governor’s Award recipient was Malinao Tasi Quitugua Palacios who received the award from Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios.
Matt Edison Salvosa Soliva was the recipient of the School Leadership Award and 18th Municipal Council Recognition Award. Also in photo are Principal Lizabeth Hofschneider and Vice Principal Nikita Mendiola.
The Mayor’s Award went to Chi Alain Llanora Acollador who received the award from Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred B. Ada, right, certifies that the members of the Class of 2022 have met the criteria for graduation.
Board of Education Chairman Gregory Pat Borja, right, declares that the members of the Class of 2022 have graduated from high school.
