Northern Marianas College conferred 304 college degrees and certificates in various degrees during its 41st Commencement Ceremony last Friday at a fully packed Koblerville Gymnasium, in an occasion that also saw the college honoring 16 who graduated with summa cum laude honors.
The 16, who garnered the highest grade point average in the Class of 2022, were presented with the Academic Achievement Award. They were Audrey Jan Samson Afable, Thomas Dela Cruz Benavente, Mary Angeline Bautista Danga, Marijean Frank Fernandez, Mia Le’alani E. Fleming, Edriel Acuin Javier, Nicole Yeeun Kim, Laverne Dela Cruz Masangcay, Nicole Ira Mauricio Mascarinas, Glen John Macalanda Matalog, Timothy Mones Retirado, Patricia Joy Santos San Nicolas, Shella Kliu Flores Sibetang, Jude Russell Montoya Tengco, Kiana Joyce Baroy Valencia, and Roger Alegre Valencia.
In addition, 51 graduates received magna cum laude honors and 65 graduates received cum laude honors.
The commencement ceremony also honored 12 graduates of Cohort 13 from May 2020 and nine graduates of Cohort 14 from December 2021, who have earned their Master of Education-International Teaching Concentration from Framingham State University.
This year’s keynote speaker was Rep. Sheila Babauta (D-Saipan), while the student who gave this year’s Student Commencement Address was Sheila Aliven.
Two graduates received the Excellence in Service Award for exemplifying servant leadership within the college community and beyond: Eloise Lopez, who graduated with an associate of science degree in Natural Resource Management, and Alyssa Pangelinan Attao, who graduated with a bachelor of science degree in Education, Rehabilitation and Human Services Concentration.
Two graduates received the Excellence in Leadership Award for exhibiting outstanding leadership and contributions at NMC and in the community. For the associate degree recipient, the honoree was Gerald King Crisostomo Jr., who graduated with an associate of applied science in Business Administration, Business Management Emphasis. The bachelor’s degree recipient was Jamerie Esguerra Paras, who graduated with a bachelor of science degree in Business Management.
Among the officials present at the ceremony were Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, NMC president Galvin Deleon Guerrero, Ed.D., Board of Regents chair Charles Cepeda and other members of the Board of Regents, and NMC president emerita and founding president Agnes McPhetres.