NMC Confers Over 400 College Degrees to Class of 2020 and Class of 2021

On Friday, Northern Marianas College conferred over 400 college degrees. The commencement ceremony combined the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 because last year’s ceremony was canceled due to the pandemic.

The commencement ceremony was held at three sites to maintain social distance requirements: World Resort, Crowne Plaza (formerly Fiesta Resort), and Hyatt Regency Hotel. Graduating students were allowed to participate in person, and their families and friends were able to view the ceremony as it was streamed live on NMC’s website and Facebook account.

View the photos from NMC's commencement exercise here: 

Governor Ralph Torres and First Lady Diann Torres, Lt. Governor Arnold Palacios, Board of Regents Chairman Charles Cepeda and other members of the Board of Regents were part of the commencement exercise.

In his presidential address to the graduates, Interim President Frankie Eliptico thanked the students for being an amazing source of inspiration for the community, for other students, and for him.

“There are students who are single moms and dads taking a full load of classes while having to care for families and working full time, there are students who were juggling three jobs, students who worked through sleepless nights, tiring lab hours, and remote study groups. Yet They persisted. And they succeeded.”

Eliptico also acknowledged the staff, faculty, and administrators of NMC who helped support the students in their educational journey. He also thanked the graduation committee led by Manny Tenorio Castro, director of Enrollment Services, for organizing the ceremony.

BOR Chairman Cepeda said: “To achieve this important milestone in your life, despite the challenges that were placed in front of you from having to transition to virtual learning, it is a trial no one has ever been tasked before.  And to the Northern Marianas College faculty and staff who were there every step of the way, who may I say, did an excellent job in ensuring that there are no delays in achieving your goals.”

The associate degrees awarded were in the following areas: Business, Liberal Arts, Business Administration (Accounting, Business Management or Computer Applications Emphasis), Criminal Justice, Hospitality Management, Natural Resource Management, and Nursing.

The bachelor degrees awarded were in Business Management (or business management with accounting concentration) and in Education (with emphasis in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Rehabilitation and Human Services, or Special Education)

For the first time, bachelor of science degrees in criminal justice were also conferred by the University of Guam. Dr. Ronald McNinch-Su from UOG was present to hand the degrees and University of Guam President Tom Krise conferred the degrees virtually.

The student commencement address was provided by:

• Eun Ho An, AAS Business Administration - Class of 2020
• James Kennedy Benjamin, AA Business - Class of 2021

Several awards were presented, including:

• Presentation of Excellence in Service Award
• Isabel Matsunaga, BS in Business Management - Class of 2020
• Victoria Matsunaga, BS in Education: Rehabilitation and Human Services Concentration - Class of 2021
• Presentation of Excellence in  Leadership Awards
• Daniel Brown, BS in Education: Rehabilitation and Human Services Concentration- Class of 2020
• Maia Pangelinan, BS in Education: Rehabilitation and Human Services Concentration - Class of 2021

Presentation of Excellence Awards (those students who earned 4.0 GPA) were handed to:

Class of 2020

•   Audrey Jan Samson Afable, AA in Liberal Arts: Education Emphasis 
•   Aysha Shania Palacios Cabrera, AAS in Business Administration: Business Management Emphasis
•   Keandre Iruguin Deseo, AA in Liberal Arts 
•   Lili Duan, BS in Business Management
•   Ellie G. Eichenberger, BS in Education: Elementary Education Concentration 
•   Marijean Frank Fernandez, AA in Liberal Arts: Education Emphasis
•   Do Hyeon Kwon, BS in Business Management: Accounting Concentration 
•   Patricia Joy Santos San Nicolas, AA in Liberal Arts: Education Emphasis 
•   Dennis F. Tababa, AAS in Business Administration: Business Management Emphasis and AAS in Hospitality Management 

Class of 2021

•   Kaylene Camacho Alepuyo, AA in Liberal Arts 
•   Aldwin Ray Tarroza Batusin, AA in Liberal Arts 
•   Jan Emmanuel Dela Cruz Bobadilla, AA in Liberal Arts
•   Mica Atienza Camacho, AAS in Business Administration: Accounting Emphasis 
•   Soledad Cecilia Adelbai Camacho, AA in Liberal Arts 
•   Annel Louise Pulido Ligaya, AA in Liberal Arts: Education Emphasis 
•   Querida Mesngon Maratita, AA in Liberal Arts: Education Emphasis 
•   Jeiel Christia G. Montilla, AAS in Business Administration: Business Management Emphasis
•   Jenine Stephanie Cunanan Pereña, AAS in Business Administration: Accounting Emphasis
•   Victor Manuel Ramirez, AAS in Business Administration: Computer Applications Emphasis 
•   Jobelle Y. Tabuena, AA in Liberal Arts
•   Marylyn Yumul Tabuena, BS in Education: Elementary Education Concentration 
•   Dino Junior Rafael Taitano, AA in Liberal Arts: Education Emphasis
•   Yijia Zhao, BS in Education: Elementary Education Concentration