Saipan Tribune

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Nine NMC students are awarded Businesswoman of the Year scholarships

Nine students from the Northern Marianas College were named recipients of the 2012 First Hawaiian Bank and Guam Business Magazine Businesswoman of the Year Scholarship, sharing between them the $10,200 awarded this semester.

The scholars are Nazario Omar Ajoste, Candelaria Tabora Aldan, Jatana Cabrera, Marie Luise Del Carmen, Kathleen Ann Laurio, Yolanda Lizama, Alvijane Manabat, Keneisha Parks, and Eldred Sanchez. Each will receive scholarship grants ranging from $785 to $1,307, which covers tuition and stipend.

The Businesswoman of the Year Scholarship program has been in existence for seven years. It provides eligible student scholarships at three higher educational institutions: NMC, University of Guam, and Guam Community College. Funds for the scholarships were raised through the 2012 Businesswoman of the Year Gala held in April.

Laura-Lynn V. Dacanay, First Hawaiian Bank senior vice president and region manager for Guam and the CNMI, and Glimpses Publications publisher Maureen N. Maratita told Saipan Tribune that this year's scholars from NMC is the largest group so far. Last year's batch had six recipients.

The University of Guam and the Guam Community College each has three scholars this semester. They are scheduled to receive their awards today in Guam.

In order to qualify for the scholarship, the program looks at the candidates' grade point average, academic achievements, and extra-curricular activities, including community service. He or she must also be a business major student.

Maratita said they started the program in Guam in 2006. It was extended to the CNMI in 2008.

Maratita also lauded Businesswoman of the Year nominee Laila Y. Boyer, who graced yesterday's occasion, for consistently supporting the program.

Acting NMC president Barbara Merfalen, the college's dean of academic programs, said the college is very happy that First Hawaiian Bank and Guam Business Magazine continue to include NMC in the scholarship program. With nine awardees this year, Merfalen praised the students for “staying on top of their studies.”

Marie Luise Del Carmen said the scholarship means so much to her as this is her third semester to be chosen to receive the grant. The 19-year-old is a sophomore business accounting major this semester.