Chamber reaches out to students • Businessmen take time out to share job interview tips to MHS graduating class

Members of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce Education Committee gathered Tuesday at the Marianas High School Cafeteria to share some tips with 50 students on how to manage a good job interview.

Sue Singh, executive director of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, and Board secretary Joseph Chiles of MKI Air-conditioning, gave a no nonsense presentation to students who will graduate high school in a month.

This presentation is the first of six one-hour presentations that will be given to MHS graduating students through the 18th of May.

Tony Pellegrino, chair of the Education Committee that organized this community service, said, “they grasped the kids attention from the beginning to the end of the seminar. It was great to see the students so interested in what they had to say.”

“When are they coming back?” asked Alfonso Ramon, a graduating student at MHS who said that he really enjoyed the seminar and would want to attend again. Mr. Pellegrino asserts that kids today need to know that the community cares about their personal achievement and their success.

“Business people are making time to come out in the middle of the day to talk to the students” said Mr. Pellegrino, “one hour can’t cover everything, but it sure can make an impression on how important it is for students to prepare for, and understand, the job application and interview process. The presenters worked hard to make sure the students wouldn’t get bored, they drew a lot of interesting subject material from their own personal experiences.”

Other Education Committee members who will be presenting this seminar are Tony Pellegrino of Pelley Enterprises, Scott Norman of Calvary Christian Church, Max Kretzers of D & Q Saipan, and Paul Baron of EFC Consulting Engineers.

Dr. Jim Denight, principal of Marianas High School, understanding the value of this type of real world skills education, put aside six sessions in the morning from 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. three mornings a week, so that the entire graduating class can benefit from these presentations.

“This is an ongoing project”, commented Chamber president Lynn Knight. “The Education Committee has the support of all the Chamber members to continue their community outreach projects that will positively affect Saipan’s workforce.”