{"id":410316,"date":"2024-06-03T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-03T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=410316"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Castro-Ferdous-lead-KHS-Class-of-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Castro-Ferdous-lead-KHS-Class-of-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Castro, Ferdous lead KHS Class of 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

Happy tears, heartfelt wishes, and hurrahs you can only get from the east side permeated the American Memorial Park in Garapan last Thursday as hundreds of family members and friends gathered to witness 97 Kagman High School Ayuyus turn their tassels and welcome a new chapter in their life.<\/p>\n

Despite moments of rain and intense summer heat, the audience had prepared bringing their umbrellas for such a moment.<\/p>\n

Leading the KHS Class of 2024 was valedictorian Zunica Mae Aldan Castro, and salutatorian Soomaitah Saba Ferdous, with the Board of Education Award going to Castro and the Commissioner\u2019s Award to Ferdous.<\/p>\n

The Lt. Governor Award went to Issa Atalig Teigita and Oceana Atalig Teigita; and the Mayor\u2019s Award went to Filomenaleonisa Tapua\u2019ialupe Iakopo. The Principal\u2019s Award went to Zared David Camacho Nekaifes and John Joseph Rios Mensah, and the recipients of the Ayuyu Spirit Award were Alfred Gonzales Jr. II and Reed Tokyo Camacho Jr.<\/p>\n

The Top 10 are Castro, Ferdous, Angelia Li Pua, Vianyka Jovissa Sablan Reyes, Shaunalyn Joan Saruyda Babauta, Darnell Lisua Decena, Akiya Cervantes Baetiong, Issa Atalig Leiwisor Teigita, Oceana Ilitiwyong Atalig Teigita, and Filomenaleonisa Tapua\u2019ialupe Iakopo.<\/p>\n

Castro was also the recipient of several other awards including the Outstanding Female Award from the CNMI Women\u2019s Affairs Office and the Governor\u2019s Outstanding Student Award.<\/p>\n

During her valedictory speech, Castro shared that the moment brought so many emotions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI find it so crazy and I\u2019m a little bit starstruck that I\u2019ve watched many graduates before me on this very stage. And now, it\u2019s finally our turn. If there\u2019s anything that I\u2019ve learned throughout these past four years, it\u2019s that sometimes life just isn\u2019t life-ing, right? I\u2019m not going to lie, it\u2019s hard, right? Oh, my goodness. But, it is at this very moment and these times that we must turn to those who have stood beside us through every step of the way and recognize them for all that they have done,\u201d said Castro as she began expressing her gratitude to her family, her partner, friends, and school faculty and classmates.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t have made it to the finish line without you. Hagu real. You are such amazing people, and I cannot wait to continue seeing our friendship blossom… thank you everyone. You have each made an impact in my life, and I would not be here standing in front of everyone without all the love, support, and guidance you have given me.\u201d<\/p>\n

To her fellow graduates, she said \u201cThank you for making this year the most memorable, but most importantly, thank you for always being down. I wish you nothing but the best of the endeavors in your lives. Biba 2024!\u201d<\/p>\n

For Ferdous, she was happy to share that the day had been one she had looked forward to for a while. \u201cI\u2019m pretty sure almost all of us were robbed of our 8th grade promotion due to COVID-19. So, it really makes this moment more special knowing how easily this could have been different. But thankfully, everything worked in our favor, and we finally got the graduation that we deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n

She also expressed her gratitude to those who have supported her throughout her high school career.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust know every one of us on this stage is truly grateful for your unwavering support and love. Thank you for believing in us from start to finish.\u201d<\/p>\n

She shared that she\u2019ll keep the memories made in KHS for a long time, saying \u201cOnce an Ayuyu, always an Ayuyu.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chosen by the class to give the keynote address was KHS teacher Elizabeth Basa.<\/p>\n

\u201cGraduates, if there\u2019s one piece of advise I want you to remember, is that you can accomplish all things with hard work. I wasn\u2019t Valley or Sally, I wasn\u2019t even in the Top 10, but yet I graduated college magna cum laude, meaning with honors. Hard work has gotten me this far, and it can get you far too. You know your class means a lot to me because you were my first ever group of students I\u2019ve taught here on Saipan. You know, I\u2019m acting like that was so long ago, that was just last school year. I am so lucky to even be a little part of your story. I never thought I\u2019d teach high school, but this group, you all, have made me realize that maybe this is where I\u2019m meant to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Basa said while she was supposed to teach the graduating class new things, in a way they\u2019re the ones who have taught her a lot.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou guys have helped me grow as an educator and a human. Unfortunately, not physically, because I\u2019m still very short. I believe you guys are going to change the world in your own unique ways for the better. Class of 2024, I want you to create a world you want to live in. Because when I have kids one day, they\u2019re going to look up to you. I am just so excited for what\u2019s to come. We\u2019re here to live our own wildly authentic life. And you only have one, so make the best of it. We\u2019re rooting for you always with so much love. Congratulations, Class of 2024,\u201d as the KHS Class of 2024 erupted in cheers.<\/p>\n

During his remarks, KHS principal Benjamin Jones Jr. also encouraged the graduates to choose their path and pursue their dreams as well as challenged them.<\/p>\n

\u201cGraduates, as you embark on your next chapter, I will not give you any more advices, instead I offer you a challenge, and no, it is not a TikTok challenge, a real challenge. I challenge you to make it better for yourself. If you want things to be different, then you need to start doing things differently. Stop making excuses, stop pointing fingers at everyone else, stop feeling sorry for yourself. When you fall, get back up, dust yourself off, check if your phone is still working, and get back to it. Ten years from now, where do you see yourself? I better not see you dreaming on the side of CYC with a six-pack. I better see you living your dreams. I\u2019m going to miss you all. Let\u2019s have a great evening, Ayuyus. Tonight, we celebrate you.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Members of the CNMI Board of Education and the Public School System pose with Kagman High School faculty members and Top 10 graduates during Kagman High School\u2019s graduation ceremony last Thursday at the American Memorial Park in Garapan.<\/p>\n

-CHRYSTAL MARINO
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Zunica Mae Aldan Castro<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Valedictorian<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Soomaitah Saba Ferdous<\/strong>\u00a0Salutatorian<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Kagman High School graduates sing the national anthem during their graduation ceremony last Thursday at the American Memorial Park in Garapan.<\/p>\n

-CHRYSTAL MARINO
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Kagman High School teacher Elizabeth Basa hi-fives graduates during the KHS commencement ceremony last Thursday at the American Memorial Park in Garapan.<\/p>\n

-CHRYSTAL MARINO
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<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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