PSS promotes academic excellence through scholarship incentives

The Public School System has expanded the availability of the Robert C. Byrd (RCB) scholarship program as part of its efforts to promote academic excellence among CNMI students, Education Commissioner Rita Inos said Friday.

Inos has announced that 29 CNMI students from the class of 1999 have been awarded the RCB scholarship grant, which under the law is only available to 10 students per state and insular area each year.

“Our PSS Federal Programs Office had worked with the US Department of Education to secure alternative funding for scholarships in excess of the 10 provided by the law,” Inos said in a press statement.

Bill Matson, PSS federal program coordinator, said that in addition to the 29 new scholars, more than 30 previous scholarship recipients will continue to receive the RCB grant for school year 1999-2000.

The scholarship award level is $1,500 for all 1999 awards in all states and insular areas, Matson said.

“We will have up to 59 CNMI high school graduates receiving almost $90,000 in additional PSS federal financial assistance next school year,” Matson added.

Unlike most of the scholarship programs available locally, Matson said the RCB grant is mainly based on the student’s academic qualification regardless of his or her family’s income level.

“It doesn’t matter if the student’s parents are earning small income or making millions as long as the student shows a high scholastic achievement and meets the criteria for eligibility,” Matson added.

The eligibility of an applicant is determined by PSS, Matson said.

Liz Romolor, PSS administrative officer, said 39 students had applied for this year’s program, but 10 of them failed to meet the requirements.

“Aside from the 3.0 GPA requirement, all applicants were required to write an essay that explains why they want to go to college and why they choose a particular university,” Romolor said.

She said that since the program was made available to the CNMI in 1993, many of the previous scholars have returned to join the local workforce and teaching pool.

Recipients of this year’s RCB scholarship grants are Merced Ada, Melani Pedro, Shawna Crisostomo, Patrick Torres, Sharon Cabrera, Karen Cepeda, Riyzyre Reyes, Christina Borja, Diana Matagolai, Roselle Ichihara, Nicole Perez, Lilane Bermudez, Evalani dela Cruz, Raena Celis, Eun K. Jang, Emelinda Cabrera, all graduates of Marianas
High School; Wynee Vilaga, Bradley Matsumoto, Vivian Salas, Jaymie-Lyn Sardea and Christina Diaz, of Mount Carmel High School; Christina Diaz and Marjorie dela Cruz, both of Tinian High School; Fransual Norita of Rota High School; Christina Partin and Chela Marie Arriola, both of Marianas Baptist Academy; and Gabriel K. Asper, Krissta Anne Kirschenheiter Megan Lyn Nevil, of Northern Marianas Academy. (MCM)