Career fair attracts 24 biz, 70 students

By Cassie Dlg Fejeran
Special to the Tribune

A career fair that drew some 24 private and government agencies attracted over 70 high school students to the Saipan World Resort’s Hibiscus Hall early Friday afternoon.

The fair organizer, Cooperative Education and Training Program, better known as Co-op, said the students will be working with these companies for a minimum of 10 hours per week. The on-the-job training program is designed to assist students in the job market, both on education in campus and training off campus.

Organizers said the fair is intended to give high school students an overview on the many government and private businesses on island. Through the program, students will be able to gain experience in the working environment and use it for future reference in their resumés.

Luis Villagomez, deputy clerk at the Superior Court, said they would be training 12 students from August through September.

“We are looking for students interested in the legal system. We show the co-op [students] how we process cases and how we put them in our database. They will be able to see courtroom operations, too,” said Villagomez.

Roderick Zandueta, sales executive for Hard Rock Café, was on hand with Hard Rock Café regional executive chef Kotwal Singh to share with the students information about the business.

“Right now we are looking for about six to seven students. We want to train them in all our areas—host, server, cook, and retailers,” said Zandueta.

The Department of Public Health will be training and educating students on health related issues. According to Roxanne Diaz, students will undergo training in the different programs offered at DPH.

“Also, we want to empower them to take care of their health. We want them to be aware of the resources they have available to them. Hopefully, they will use that and share it with their friends and family,” she added.

Rayu Hernandez, a student from Saipan Southern High School, said the program makes him feel important in the job market. “I’ve gone to Wells Fargo and he [James Matsumoto] told me his program might give me a position in the company. This makes me feel important,” he said.

Co-op coordinator Tyce Minister was on hand to assist students participating in the program. He extends his appreciation to the businesses involved in the program.

On hand to recruit students were Christy Kintol from the Commonwealth Development Authority; Shirley Dotts from Verizon Micronesia; Annie Hayes from Herman’s Modern Bakery; Lisa Stenttenbenz from Louis Vuitton; Nate Hawley from the Department of Lands and Natural Resource; Trish Reyes from the Public Defender’s Office; James Matsumoto from Wells Fargo Financial; Roxanne Diaz from the Department of Public Health; Jojo Cramer from Pacific Islands Club; Piding Sablan from the Marianas Visitors Authority; Jason Shankweiler from Saipan Crewboats Inc.; Shirley Dotts from the Society for Human Resources Management; Craig Sonoda from the Public Auditors Office; Christy Pangelinan from Saipan World Resort; Steve Tilley from Coastal Resource Management; Denise Montenegro from Hyatt Regency Saipan; Laurie Peterka from the Law Offices of White Pierce Mailman and Nutting; Roderick Zandueta from Hard Rock Café; Jesse Atoigue from the Department of Labor; Alfred Pangelinan from Employment Services; Chris Wallace from the CNMI Superior Court; Christine Parke from the Saipan Chamber of Commerce; Marietta Sablan from the Commonwealth Health Center; and Jim Argnovski from Shell Marianas.