NMC holds 25th commencement exercises

Northern Marianas College awarded approximately 270 degrees, diplomas, and certificates at its 25th commencement, with five students receiving academic achievement awards on Saturday.

Finishing at the top of her class was Christina M. Smith, who graduated summa cum laude with a baccalaureate degree in education.

Among the associate degree recipients, those who took top honors were Tatiana Babauta, Zachary Berger, Oxana G. Banes, and Leslie K. Cabrera.

In addition, 27 individuals received their master’s degrees from two U.S. institutions, with which NMC has articulation agreements to facilitate post-graduate education courses.

Framingham State College conferred hoods upon 23 recipients of Master of Education degrees, while the San Diego State University honored four recipients of Master of Arts in Education degrees.

Framingham State College professor Betsy Whitman and San Diego State University-Center for Pacific Studies co-director Steve Spencer helped in distributing diplomas to the graduates.

David Cohen, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s deputy assistant secretary for insular affairs, addressed the graduates, following an introduction by Gov. Juan N. Babauta.

Wearing the yellow island shirt that was the CNMI delegation’s uniform at the September 2004 Los Angeles business conference, Cohen paid tribute to the cultural diversity of NMC’s student population. He also honored the formerly “stateless children,” who were recently granted U.S. citizenship.

Further, Cohen stressed upon the graduates, particularly to those who completed associate degrees, the importance of pursuing baccalaureate degrees.

“In this day and age, you severely limit your options if you don’t have at least a bachelor’s degree. Each of you has proven that you’re capable of earning a two-year degree, so there’s no reason that each and every one of you cannot earn a four-year degree.

“You live on a small island, but you also live in a great big world. Like it or not, we live in an interconnected global economy, where those who are educated will get farther and farther ahead, and those who are not will get further and further behind. And the bar is getting higher and higher.

“They say that ‘No man is an island.’ But in today’s interconnected world, it’s even fair to say that ‘No island is an island.’ There’s no place to hide, even on a tiny island like Saipan, from the competitive pressures of the world economy. So finish your education,” Cohen said.
Valedictory speeches were delivered by Cabrera and Smith. (Agnes E. Donato)