Chamber awards Pellegrino Vocational, Educational scholarships
Five recipients of the Pellegrino Vocational Award and Chamber Education Award were presented during the Saipan Chamber of Commerce general membership meeting last Wednesday at Charley’s Room of the Pacific Island Club Saipan.
The award ceremony was hosted by Mercilynn Palec of Northern Marians College-Small Business Development Center, Benjamin Babauta of Northern Marianas Technological Institute, and Plumeria Aldan-Castro of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. Reine T. Aldan received the Pellegrino Vocational Award, while the recipients of the Chamber Education Award were Catherine M. Barrozo, Ayesha Mustansar, Bonnie Gio Sagana, and Crystal S. Seidler.
Palec shared a glimpse of the recipient’s stories when she said how Mustanar overcame challenges that inspire others. Mustanar, being the eldest daughter in her family, aims to alleviate her parents’ burden through her nursing career and seeks to inspire her younger siblings and break down barriers to mental health. One of her goals is to improve access to mental health services and foster a supportive community.
Barrozo is a dedicated working student from Saipan, pursuing a degree in criminal justice to address drug-related problems in the CNMI. She focuses on educating the youth and community from a criminal justice perspective.
Sagana is the president of the Associated Students of the Northern Marianas College and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, a community volunteer committed to education and community service. Sagana’s success is attributed to his mother’s love and support.
Full-time employee Seidler is also a mother and student who pursues business management to support small businesses, while Pellegrino awardee Aldan studies culinary arts to open a business that will promote local traditional and cultural food.
Palec recognized the recipients for their resilience, dedication, and community contributions and added that their stories encouraged everyone to pursue excellence and create positive change.
The award ceremony concluded with Palec expressing gratitude to the scholarship panel, organizers, and Saipan Chamber of Commerce members.
Saipan Chamber of Commerce board of directors poses with the Pellegrino Vocational and Education Chamber awardees last Wednesday during the Chamber general membership meeting at Charley’s Room of Pacific Island Club Saipan. The scholarship awardees, from third left, Reine T. Aldan, Catherine Barrozo, Ayesha Mustanar, Crystal Seidler, and Bonnie Gio Sagana.
-RACQUEL FLOYD
