PSS students share positive experience in AHLEI program

The Northern Marianas Technical Institute, in collaboration with the Public School System Cooperative Education Program and Island Training Solutions, successfully certified another 63 students from Saipan in this year’s American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute Hospitality START program.

At the graduation ceremony last June 18 held at Saipan World Resort in Susupe, Saipan Tribune was able to speak to five of the graduates on the reasons why they chose hospitality and the reason the course appealed to them so much.

Eighteen-year-old Lynna Kaipat shared that hospitality had a huge impact on her life.

“I was really looking forward to working in the hospitality industry,” she said while sharing that she especially was interested in being a receptionist and interacting with people. “To me, that was, like, a dream job. So, my teacher, Vicky Benavente, I really learned a lot from her. Customer service, guest service, like, everything. It was really a wonderful experience, and having to go on field trips, and seeing everything firsthand.”

Kaipat that she is looking to working in the hospitality in the future and shared that she would encourage her peers to at least try it out, especially in the AHLEI program. “It might not be for everybody, but if you’re interested in it, you should definitely take it.”

Kagman High School’s Nyaoli Agbanlog shared with Saipan Tribune how she was introduced to the course. “So, I heard a lot about it from other people in my school and I heard about a certificate that we can get and after learning of the benefits and opportunity, I thought I’d join,” said the 17-year-old. “I really, really enjoyed this class. I think mostly because of my teacher, Ms. Benavente. She’s like the best. I recommend it, like 100%. I learned a lot, and I think it like really shaped my career choices.”

Keth Kat Soriano, from Marianas High School, was one of the students who completed the course with honors. She told Saipan Tribune she had known about the program from her school counselor.

“Since I was a sophomore, I’ve been really interested in hospitality. It’s just that there was never a chance for me to take a class until this came up.”

She then shared her experience in the course, “I honestly loved every part of it. My teacher, Mr. Larry (Lee), he was very funny, and I liked that the class was very, very exclusive and friendly. I’m actually glad that I was able to finish it. I feel very accomplished to be able to finish this with the rest of my peers. It was really something to look forward to every day. Through this, I found out that in the future, I would like to work in hospitality, possibly front desk at a hotel.”

Saipan Southern High School’s Jyler Brent Villar and Mechaella Faye De Ramos were also two honor graduates in the program. They shared their reasons for taking the hospitality course as well.

“When I first took a look at this course, I thought of my resume. When I started out my resume, it was pretty bleak and I wanted to find ways to help build my resume. So, at least in the future, I’m set to actually get a job easier. In terms of like, what’s called, a lot of jobs needing at least experience before you get accepted. So, what brought me to this course was purely just to help me out in the future, “ said 15-year-old Villar

De Ramos shared, “I was looking at classes I could take, since I was a senior at the time of applying. I figured that it’s one of the classes I haven’t taken yet, and it was a new course. So, I was like, why don’t I try it out? So, I did, and I actually really enjoyed it. When I was first looking at the course, it was teaching about how to be hospitable to guests, I was just interested in that, and I decided to just take the plunge, and I found that I really enjoyed it.” De Ramos added, “I think it’s a really useful course. It teaches you a lot about things you can apply when you work in the hospitality industry. But not only that, you can apply it in your everyday life. Some of the lessons you learn from the course, you can definitely apply it not only in your jobs, but in your everyday life.”

“If you’re really interested or thinking about working with people, dealing with different ethnic groups, ages, all that, I suggest you start by having a liking to it. Because if you don’t, it’s going to be something you won’t feel fulfilled in. Stick with something that will make you happy,” said Villar

Out of the 63 graduates, 23 students earned honors by scoring 90% or above on the exam. Their accomplishments were celebrated in a ceremony at the Saipan World Resort last June 18, where they received AHLEI certification, a prestigious credential in the hospitality industry, recognized globally by hotels and resorts, from major chains to small boutique establishments.

Throughout the program, students were educated on 18 different hospitality roles, including front desk operations, housekeeping, banquets, and restaurant service. The semester-long course featured guest speakers, field trips, and work experience/shadowing at various island hotels. This elective course, part of the PSS Cooperative Education program led by Brandon Nicolas, who also gave the closing remarks, is available at all three public high schools on Saipan.

This spring semester marks the 10th anniversary of the AHLEI START program in PSS high schools, during which over 1,600 students have been certified. The class is facilitated by Island Training Solutions, AHLEI’s partner in the CNMI.