Bermudes and Ermitanio top MHS graduates

Marianas High School held its graduation ceremony last Saturday at their school’s gymnasium, honoring Kristina Bermudes and Ann Rochelle Ermitanio as the top student of the year.

This year, there were 213 graduates, resulting in a crowd of approximately over 500 people inside the Marianas High School gymnasium.

This year’s graduation theme was “A trip to let go of, a memory to hold on to.”

Valedictorian Kristina Bermudes, 17, not only received the Board of Education award but is also a Joeten Foundation scholarship grantee and a Robert Byrd Scholarship recipient.

She is the daughter of House of Representatives legal counsel Joe Bermudes and Senate clerk Dolores Bermudes at the Legislative Bureau.

“We’re very proud of her. Usually she does her homework on her own. Sometimes she will ask me for help on math. I used to teach math in Marianas High School, so I know very much how to help her,” said Joe.

“I am very happy and glad and also surprised at her accomplishments. I very proud that she managed to get this far,” said Doris.

Kristina Bermudes plans to go to the University of California and major in a pre-Medicine course.

Salutatorian Ann Rochelle Ermitanio, 17, not only received the Commissioner’s Award but also the Mayor’s Community Service Award. She is the daughter of Mercy and Edward Ermitanio.

Besides academics, Ermitanio is also active and shines in many school activities, including the National Forensic League, National Honor Society, AmeriCorps, Junior Statesmen of America, and Teen Talk.

“I really have mixed emotions about graduating. I felt happy when I first knew that I was Salutatorian, but I also felt sad, as I knew that the last days of my senior years were coming,” said Ermitanio.

She will be going to college in the Emory University in Atlanta and will major in neuroscience and behavioral biology.

The graduation ceremony also honoured other awardees.

Amada T. Rabauliman was awarded the Governor’s Award. The Principal’s Award went to Edgardo Macabalo, and the MHS Alumni Award went to Andrew Benavente.

The graduating class’ top ten were Kristina Bermudes, Ann Rochelle Ermitanio, Bryan T. Demapan, Eugene F. Solomon, Maria Agnes Constante, Syrille D. Manacop, Joy Donato, Chellah Ann Sablan, Rachel Ashley P. Reyes, and Josefa Carmen Untalan.

Stellar Marianas president and Marianas Variety general manager Laila Y. Boyer was the keynote speaker for the event.