Sablan, Lin are top SSHS graduates

At a sun-splashed graduation ceremony last Monday afternoon, the south side of Saipan celebrated its 142 graduates as they moved on to the next chapter of their lives.

Ye Zhi Sablan and Jing Lin are Saipan Southern High School’s Class of 2024 top graduates.

Sablan was the school’s valedictorian and recipient of the Board of Education Award, but was awarded in absentia. Lin was the salutatorian and received the Commissioner of Education Award.

The Governor’s Leadership Award was presented to Mechaella De Ramos, while the Lt. Governor’s Leadership Award went to Casey Cruz, who was off-island for the 2024 Oceania Athletics Championships in Suva, Fiji.

The Mayor’s Service Award recipient was Shamira Sulyman, and the Principal’s Award went to Yasmeen Younis.

The Top 10 are Sablan, Lin, Sulyman, Gracie Mendiola, Jobelle Ann Sapo, Jasmine Kyle Saluta, Uirom Park, Aleeza Castro, Sky Gusteen Palacios, and Fatima Rose Ito.

In Lin’s salutatory speech, she started by thanking her teachers and her school’s staff for their passion and dedication for teaching them and guiding them to where they are now.

For her parents and family, she said, “your support and help are the reason I am able to stand here today.”

To her fellow graduates, she exclaimed, “We made it! I want you to be proud of yourselves… We have made it through all these challenges—no matter if it was a typhoon, pandemic, or struggle to pass a class. We are entering the next chapter of our lives, so be proud of yourself. It’s you who worked through all of it to make it here to get to the next chapter.”

Their keynote speaker was SSHS English teacher, Suaad Younis, who stepped off the stage to address the students at the same level who were seated below.

During a part of her speech, she made the graduates close their eyes, take a deep breath, and repeat after her: “I am amazing. I am a graduate of Saipan Southern High School. I am a wonderful human being. I am enough. I love who I am, and who I will become. Biba, Class of 2024!”

For her congratulatory remarks before the presentation of awards, Board of Education acting chair Maisie B. Tenorio said, “If you ever find yourself in the midst of change and it feels scary, remember what you did today. Use that Manta spirit to give you courage to embrace change. You got this! So again, on behalf of the CNMI State Board of Education, we salute you, we honor you, we celebrate you. Congratulations Saipan Southern High School class of 2024. Go Mantas!”

The welcoming remarks were made by SSHS principal Vince Dela Cruz, while Education Commissioner Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho also gave his congratulatory remarks after Tenorio.