BRIEFS December 29, 2014 Lessons & Carols Success NIMGIL, Yap (YCHS News, Dec. 22, 2014) — Thirty-one YCHS students, under the direction of Mr. Lupo and Father Mulreany, S.J., delighted an over-flow audience by presenting the schools annual Evening of Lessons and Carols. The program consisted of nine readings from Holy Scripture followed by sacred songs. This “Lessons and Carols” type of service dates back to the 19th century and has its origins in England. The “lessons” are readings from Scripture that give us a brief summary of how God has reached out to human beings throughout history. The readings cover the fall of humankind, the promise of the Messiah, the incarnation, and Jesus’ commission to preach the Good News. The “carols” are the Christmas songs that are sung following each reading and prayer. The YCHS administration building, complete with Christmas tree and indoor as well as outdoor Christmas lights, served as the welcoming center for guests. Christmas cookies and other treats were served by YCHS students. The Lessons and Carols Program took place in the junior classroom building—also adorned with Christmas lights both inside and out. Many of the guests visited the schools science lab for the first time. Many also stopped in the assembly room to view the college map, a map depicting the US colleges that current YCHS seniors have been accepted to. (All twelve seniors have already been accepted to at least one US college/university!) Thanks to the YCHS students who performed and all the faculty who helped make the evening a huge success. The entire YCHS school community wishes all a joy-filled Christmas and a peace-filled new year! Gates Scholar Returns NIMGIL, Yap (YCHS News, Dec. 24, 2014) — Gates Millennium Scholar and YCHS Class of 2014 valedictorian, Domclancy Tiliwebug, visited Yap Catholic High School during the last week of classes before Christmas. The University of Portland engineering major shared experiences of his transition to college life and strategies for succeeding in the first semester of college. Tiliwebug’s return coincided with the good news shared by Fr. Corcoran during morning assembly that every senior in the Class of 2015 has already been accepted into at least one four-year college or university in the United States. The Class of 2015 began the college process late in junior year by writing their first drafts of college application and scholarship essays. The have taken the SAT twice thanks to fee waivers secured by YCHS. This year’s seniors, the first freshman class in YCHS history, were also the first to take the PSAT in junior year. Over the past two summers, they have taken SAT Math and English prep classes, leading to the highest SAT class average in school history. “Due to the time lag of the mail and the extra verifications required by the U.S. Department of Education and the individual colleges, I pushed our seniors to apply to many colleges by the Early Action deadlines in early November,” said Mr. Nolan, S.J., a Jesuit scholastic who is working as a college counselor with his second class of seniors. “The seniors rose to the occasion, and their reward…acceptance letters before Christmas!” In addition to Tiliwebug’s alma mater of the University of Portland, the seniors have been accepted into a total of fifteen institutions including nine Jesuit universities (Fordham University, Santa Clara University, Loyola Marymount University, St. Joseph’s University, Creighton University, St. Peter’s University, Wheeling Jesuit University, Rockhurst University, and the University of Detroit-Mercy). Tiliwebug, who also spoke at the school-wide assembly, met with seniors in the new science lab, congratulated them on their acceptances, and answered their questions about college life. The questions included: What shocked you? (homeless people in the street, static electricity); Do you have time for sports? (open gym for basketball every Thursday night); What did you do when you became discouraged? (relied on friends, family, and reflection during the Tuesday night dorm Masses). Talking about the college process in general, Tiliwebug advised that the seniors write personal essays where they share about their unique culture and experiences on Yap. He also said that “engineers don’t party. You need to put in the time to study.” Tiliwebug found success by seeing professors during their office hours and reviewing for physics and calculus in study groups. Finally, Tiliwebug said, “College isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be hard.” Yap Campus Holds First “Quiz Bee” TORAAQ, Yap (COM-FSM News, Dec. 29, 2014) — Yap Campus conducted its first “Quiz Bee” as a culminating activity for the Fall Semester on December 12, 2014. Four groups consisted of three students participating in the competition. Questions ranged from the disciplines of English, Math, Science, and Social Science was asked. The groups garnering the most number of points were declared the winners. Team 1, Lisa Marie Yagruw, Reiko Azuma, and Catherine Gamow, emerged as the winner of the competition. The 1st Runner-up went to Vivina Tinmad, Melana Diaz, and Aourapearl Wes Gililung , and the 2nd Runner-up to Melantha Ruwemidil, Stephenia Gilsowuth, and Stacey Fanapluw. The winners received $50 and flash drives, while the runners-up received $30 and $20, respectively. The competition was coordinated by the Instructional Department. Questions were prepared by Professors Jovita Masiwemai (English), Rhoda Velasquez (Math), Joy Guarin (Science) and Robert Yangerluo (Social Science). Yap Campus would like to acknowledge the following sponsors; Dr. Murukesan Krishnapillai, Dean Lourdes Roboman, Rhoda Velasquez, Jovita Masiwemai, Rosa Tacheliol, Raymond Permitez, Teresa Filepin, Joy Guarin, and Susan Guarin. Marshalls College Names New President From Fiji MAJURO, Marshall Islands (Marianas Variety, Dec. 29, 2014) — The College of the Marshall Islands has named a University of the South Pacific administrator as its new president. “I am pleased and excited to announce that the board has unanimously selected Dr. Theresa Koroivulaono to be our next president,” said Bob Willson, CMI’s human resources director, in a statement issued earlier last week. Koroivulaono will take over from current President Carl Hacker in the early part of 2015. Hacker has been president for a three-year term, which was extended in November until the hiring of the new president could be accomplished. Koroivulaono was one of three short-listed candidates for the top post at the Majuro-based college. The three candidates each spent about a week in Majuro in November and early December meeting students, faculty and administrators prior to the board of regents making its decision just before Christmas. Koroivulaono currently works at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji where she has been an acting director of the Center for Flexible Learning since 2012. She has worked at USP since 2002. Prior to that she worked at Air Fiji and the University of Auckland, where she did her academic studies, including achieving a Ph.D. in 2010. College officials said they hoped that she would be able to take up her post before the scheduled March visit by a team from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. It is a key accreditation visit for the college, which is currently on “warning” sanction related to fiscal deficits in previous years and the need to increase its endowment and contingency funds. Guam: Obama Gives Military 1% Pay Raise HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Pacific Daily News/PIR, Dec. 29, 2014) — With President Barack Obamas recent signing of the 2015 defense spending bill into law, the Defense Department last week released some details on how pay rates, basic allowance, cost of living and other allowances will change. Most military service members will receive a 1-percent increase in basic pay in the new year. General and flag officers will not see an increase this coming year, according to the Defense department. The Defense Department gave examples of pay raise changes. A service member with an E-4 pay grade, and who has three years of service, will see an increase in basic pay of $22.20 per month. A service member with a pay grade of O-3 who was six years of service will receive a basic pay increase of $54.30 per month in the coming year. Basic allowance for housing rates for service members in 2015 will increase, on average, by $17 per month, or 0.5 percent. The 2015 basic allowance for subsistence rates for military members will increase by 2.9 percent over last year. The new rates are: • $367.92 per month for enlisted members; and • $253.38 per month for officers. The Defense Department also stated that about 12,000 service members will see a decrease in their contiguous United States cost of living allowance payments, while some 7,000 service members will see an increase or no change, and 4,000 members will no longer receive the allowance. The contiguous United States cost-of-living allowance is a taxable supplemental allowance designed to help offset higher prices in high-cost locations, and rates vary based on location, pay grade, years of service and dependent status, according to the Defense Department. PNG Capital Relaxes Betelnut Ban PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (RNZI, Dec. 29, 2014) — Papua New Guineas National Capital District is removing the ban on betelnut sales and implementing a licensing system in its place. NCD Governor Powes Parkop says a ban was initially put in place in Port Moresby because of the mess and social problems that were associated with sellers. Mr. Parkop says he is also against betelnut chewing because of the health consequences and has linked it to the high incidence of mouth cancer in the capital. However the governor says the new system recognizes betelnut selling represents many peoples livelihoods and chewing is a traditional habit. Mr. Parkop says every seller will need a license. The license will be stick to a particular location in which they will be vending. It will most probably be their house or within their neighborhood. Definitely there wont be sales in public places like all the shopping malls and bus stops and along the beaches, places which belong to everyone. Also the condition is that they will have to pay some fee and also keep their vending place clear. A license will cost just under 200 US dollars and will last until the trial period ends in April. University Of Hawaii Cancer Center Struggling HONOLULU, Hawaii (RNZI, Dec. 29, 2014) — The University of Hawaii Cancer Center is facing shrinking revenue streams and financial losses as it tries to stay afloat. The Honolulu Star Advertiser reports that without help the centres reserves will be depleted within two years. Officials at the university say the money troubles stem from an outdated business model. Planners thought the centres share of the state cigarette tax would bring in close to $20 million US dollars a year. But cigarette tax revenues have been declining and the centres new state of the art facility came with an $8 million annual mortgage payment that it cant afford. The centre ended last year with a nearly $10 million deficit. Its mission is to reduce the burden of cancer through research, education and outreach. -END- COMMUNITY MESSAGE: Law is our community’s best estimation or approximation of justice. But, law needs constant revision to fit the time. And law, old or new, cannot force a person to be moral, respectful or tolerant. So, doing what is right is not limited to the law. Sometimes, we must go beyond the law to do what is right to maintain and promote ethical conduct, respect and fairness. And it is this “we” thing again that we can certainly have more of, if we truly believe in a better community for all. Happy New Year to all. Copyright © 2014 Yap State Government, All rights reserved.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 09:02:55 +0000
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