Northern Marianas College Graduation 2018

Northern Marianas College
Graduation 2018

Between 1975 and 1983 I worked in the Northern Mariana Islands with Bilingual/Bicultural Chamorro and Carolinian education, teacher training and higher education finally becoming the first president of Northern Marianas Community College/Northern Marinas College. Thus it was a joy to have President Carmen Fernandez invite me to be the May 19, 2018 commencement speaker at the Northern Marianas College Graduation. Following are some pictures and scans related to this wonderful experience. Lots of pictures were taken, but all I have right now are the few from my camera. Hope to receive some other pictures later and write about the trip, but for now will share what I have.

Unfortunately, it has become an even more appropriate time to share the first graduation in 1982 and this one in 2018. After graduation on May 21, 2018 we learned of the passing on Governor Pedro "Pete" Tenorio. He was an important supporter of NMCC/NMC and was the commencement speaker at the first graduation. We include his 1982 speech here as well as my 2018 one. I now wish I has thought to read his graduation speech rather than read mine. In the future the website will include information about establishing NMCC/NMC with more content about Governor Tenorio's important role and the role of others.

It is a college tradition to wear the robe of your most recent college/university. I was glad my Harvard University cap and gown finally arrived three days late after making their own trip to Korea. I was also able to wear flowers around my head from NMC and the Carolinian necklace made for me by Cinta Kaipat and given to me prior to graduation.

The day before graduation, we were given a comprehensive tour of the NMC Campus. The library and archives to which I hope to donate books and documents were explained to us by Perry Pangelinan, John Cook and Samuel Crawford. The day after graduation, we flew to Rota for a few days where Martin Mendiola showed us the Rota campus of NMI among other places. More about Rota where I was a Peace Corps Volunteer from 1967 to 1969 will be in a different album.

Documents of Interest - NMC 1st Graduations & 2018 Graduation