NMC Student Body Elects New Officers

Northern Marianas College students recently elected new officers to the college’s student government body, or the Associated Students of NMC. The new officers are: Alyssa Attao, President; Gerald Crisostomo Jr., Vice-President; Jefferson Cunanan, Secretary; Duncan Laxa, Treasurer; and Maritoni Duarte and Eloise Lopez as senators.

“I am honored to have been chosen to serve the students of the Northern Marianas College as president,” Attao said.

Attao is a 20-year-old education major in her fourth year at NMC and was elected to the ASNMC board as the treasurer back in 2020.

“I would like to thank all the NMC students who have trusted me to represent them,” Attao added.

Crisostomo, a 22-year-old freshman business major, said that he is excited to serve this term as the Vice-President.

“I feel honored that the students of NMC have chosen me to represent them,” Crisostomo said. “I will work hard to ensure that NMC always has the best interests of students in mind in every decision the college makes.”

19-year-old freshman Liberal Arts major Cunanan said he is happy with the results of the election.

“It feels really gratifying to know that the students of NMC entrusted me with such a big responsibility,” Cunanan said. “It is a big responsibility to take on, but I am ready and willing to do my best as [the students’] ASNMC Secretary."

Cunanan also thanked his supervisors Alexis Manglona and Maia Pangelinan for encouraging him to run.

Laxa, the newly-elected student body treasurer, is a 20-year-old business major who has been taking classes at NMC for more than two years.

“Throughout the [election] process, I was excited but also very nervous,” Laxa said. “I believe that the outcome of the election gave me a great opportunity for me to challenge myself and improve my leadership skills."

Laxa thanks his constituents for supporting him in this election, and thanks Michaela Gatdula for encouraging him to step out of his comfort zone.

Incoming ASNMC Senator Duarte said that she is honored to have been elected to the student government body.

“I am excited to start working with my ASNMC colleagues to begin representing our fellow students,” Duarte said.

A 29-year-old business major, Duarte has been at NMC for more than nine years. She has received a liberal arts degree and nursing degree from the College.

“I would like to thank all the students of NMC who voted and made their voices heard,” Duarte added.

Lopez, a re-elected senator, said that she is excited to serve this term.

“The journey starts here and I am excited to see what we can offer to all our students as student leaders of NMC,” Lopez said. “I am excited to distribute the ideas that we will create together and I believe that the team that we have will do bigger and greater things!”

Lopez is a 23-year-old natural resource management and elementary education major at the College.

“I want to thank my family for believing in me once more again to be a part of our next ASNMC cohort, my friends from the states and here for continued to help me spread the awareness, my work staff for encouraging to apply, and overall – the continuous support of the students at the Northern Marianas College,” Lopez added.

ASNMC is a student-driven governance body at the College. Its executive cabinet is composed of students who are elected at large by the student body and serve a one-year term in office.

This year’s student government elections took place on August 30 and 31, 2021.

For more information about ASNMC, visit marianas.edu or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..