Chamber recognizes outsanding scholars during awards ceremony

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce proudly hosted its Annual Scholarship Awarding Ceremony during its August general membership meeting last week at the Pacific Islands Club’s Charley’s Room. The scholarship program, which has been a cornerstone of the Chamber’s community initiatives since 2008, is funded by the generous contributions of Chamber members through the Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament.

This year, five exceptional individuals were honored with scholarships for their academic achievements and dedication to their studies:

Reine Aldan received the Pellegrino Vocational Award. Aldan is pursuing studies in Baking and Pastry at the Northern Marianas Technical Institute.

Catherine Barrozo received the Chamber Education Award. Barrozo is a triple major, studying for an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts, an Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management at the Northern Marianas College.

Ayesha Mustansar received the Chamber Education Award. Mustansar is majoring in an Associate of Science in Nursing at the Northern Marianas College.

Bonnie Gio Sagana received the Chamber Education Award. Sagana is majoring in Pre-Education, Rehabilitation & Human Services, Liberal Arts with an emphasis in Social Work, and an Associate of Science in Nursing at the Northern Marianas College.

Crystal Seidler received the Chamber Education Award. Seidler is majoring in Associate of Arts in Business, Business Administration: Business Management emphasis, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management at the Northern Marianas College.

“It is a great honor to be able to celebrate and assist our youth through our annual scholarship program in achieving their academic goals. We look forward to celebrating and assisting more scholars in the years to come,” said Chamber executive director Kimberly C. Camacho.

Mercilynn Palec, chair of the Education and Workforce Development Committee, expressed her gratitude, saying, “On behalf of the Education and Workforce Development Committee, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Chamber membership for making it possible to provide these scholarships to our students. This program is a direct result of your generous contributions during our Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament, your participation in our Professional Development Trainings, and your support of other Chamber initiatives. During the ceremony, we witness the Chamber’s ongoing commitment to giving back to our community and the profound impact it has on these five individuals, and by extension, their families. I am honored to sit on the scholarship panel alongside Benjamin Babauta, Marketing Manager for the Northern Marianas Technical Institute & Plumeria Aldan Castro of Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.

The Chamber remains dedicated to fostering educational and professional development opportunities for the community. Through continued support and collaboration, the Chamber aims to empower more students in their academic pursuits, ensuring a brighter future for the CNMI.

The Chamber is a non-profit organization whose mission is to empower our enterprises as a resource, advocate, and connector for Saipan’s private sector. Its vision is to create an island where businesses, families, and communities succeed as one. For more information or to learn how to become a Chamber member, visit online at www.saipanchamber.com, call (670) 234-7150, or visit the 2nd Floor of the Marianas Business Plaza (Suite 201-A). (PR)