{"id":229086,"date":"2016-06-02T06:00:24","date_gmt":"2016-06-01T20:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=229086"},"modified":"2016-06-02T06:00:24","modified_gmt":"2016-06-01T20:00:24","slug":"139-graduate-saipan-southern","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/139-graduate-saipan-southern\/","title":{"rendered":"139 graduate from Saipan Southern"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-229086 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/139-graduate-saipan-southern\/sshs-pix-1\/'>SSHS-pix-1<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-229099'>\n\t\t\t\tSaipan Southern High School valedictorian Jason Lee poses for a photo with his parents and Public School System board members Janice Tenorio and Herman Guerrero yesterday at Saipan Southern High School.\n(Thomas Manglona II)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/139-graduate-saipan-southern\/sshs-pix-2\/'>SSHS-pix-2<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-229100'>\n\t\t\t\tThe Top 10 students of Saipan Southern High School\u2019s graduating class pose for a photo flanked by local leaders, Public School System officials, dignitaries, and their 129 classmates on campus during yesterday\u2019s commencement exercise. (Thomas Manglona II)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>Saipan Southern High School valedictorian Jason Lee started spearfishing in his freshmen year. <\/p>\n<p>He was initially apprehensive to venture out into the deep blue ocean but eventually mustered the courage to join his friends more often. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI learned to enjoy the bounty of sea that surrounds us and the opportunity that my school provided,\u201d he told his 138 classmates during yesterday\u2019s commencement exercise on campus.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat Saipan Southern High School and spearfishing have taught me is to preserve fresh eyes,\u201d he added. \u201cSome of us have lived here all of our lives\u2026but as we ready ourselves to commence our new lives it is the attitude to be able to see with clear eyes all the opportunities that lay out there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In his address, Lee also urged his fellow graduates to dive into the \u201cvast ocean\u201d and realize that there is so much more to know that what is on the surface of life. <\/p>\n<p>The valedictorian noted that although the school year began with the destruction of a typhoon, he and his peers came out stronger than Soudelor. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe will face the challenges the future holds with our eyes wide open,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<p>Joining in his call to action, salutatorian Kyle Catilo urged his fellow graduates to remain grateful throughout their lives. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can attribute my success in life, whether it be big or small, to my support system\u2026I have been fortunate enough to be surrounded by positive, influential, and supportive people who have inspired, motivated, and challenged me,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<p>Catilo stressed the importance of building meaningful relationships and support systems. \u201cFind people who not only will be there in your glory days, but people who will be there in your darkest hours,\u201d he explained. \u201cBeing up here is not a result of my own efforts. Being up here is a result of having a strong support system.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Joining in congratulating the graduates and their families were Board of Education chair Herman Guerrero, Education Commissioner Dr. Rita A. Sablan, Public School System key management, SSHS principal Martha Kintol, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, first lady Dianne Torres, Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP), and other dignitaries. <\/p>\n<p>In her remarks, Dr. Sablan explained that investment in education can occur in many ways and can be difficult. <\/p>\n<p>She said, \u201cThese students here really are the evidence of what investment in education is all about.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sablan noted that 73 percent of the graduates were accepted to college, 11 students are employed, 10 are enlisted in the armed forces, one will be joining the fire academy, and nine students received full-ride scholarships\u2014among many other accomplishments. She also lauded several students who passed the Northern Marianas College placement exams in Math and English. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe work the students have done is a testament to your support, love, nurturing, and sacrifice that you have done,\u201d she added. \u201cPlease ask them to come back\u2026 We need them to be a part of the community so we can advance our lives here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the presentation of awards, Jason Lee received the Board of Education Award and Kyle Catilo was awarded the Commissioner\u2019s Award. Both students were recipients of the Lt. Governor\u2019s Leadership award. <\/p>\n<p>The Governor\u2019s Leadership Award was presented to Annika Matias, for her outstanding involvement in school and community activities. Terrence Jade C. Blanca is the recipient of this year\u2019s Principal\u2019s Award.<\/p>\n<p>The Top 10 students of the graduating class were also recognized: Fariha Omaris ranked 10th followed by, Annika Matias, Eden Deang, Mikhail Alcantara, Ji Sun Lee, Ji Hoon Lee, Rhea Ann Banados, Terrence Blanca, Kyle Catilo, and Jason Lee. <\/p>\n<p>The students left one seat on stage with a photo of their late classmate, Timothy Lee Salas Wesley Jr., who would have graduated with his classmates yesterday. <\/p>\n<p>In his keynote address, Rep. Edwin Propst (Ind-Saipan) offered words of wisdom to the graduates, which he learned from his mother and father.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExpect setbacks, failure, and mistakes,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019re prone to make mistakes. What sets us apart from others is how we will learn from mistakes and how we rebound and recover when we do not succeed.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>He urged the graduates to \u201cembrace the present\u201d and not forget to enjoy being in the moment with loved ones.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBe humble and learn that saying \u2018I am sorry\u2019 is just as important as saying \u2018I love you,\u2019\u201d he added. \u201cNo matter where your journeys take you in this life, never forget that how you make people feel is just as important, if not more important, as to what you say or do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The SSHS graduation was themed, \u201cThe potential within us is greater than the obstacles around us.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Saipan Southern High School valedictorian Jason Lee started spearfishing in his freshmen year. He was&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":229099,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1222,11815,11816,67],"class_list":["post-229086","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news","tag-education-commissioner-dr","tag-jason-lee","tag-kyle-catilo","tag-people"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229086","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=229086"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229086\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/229099"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=229086"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=229086"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=229086"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}