Kilili encourages eligible HS Juniors to attend Junior Statesman Program

Saipan, MP – Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan announces that Junior Statesman of America is sending representatives Matthew Randazzo and Elliot Nguyen to Saipan this week to promote and recruit for Junior Statesman Summer Program.

Since 1992 the Junior Statesman of America with the help of the Department of the Interior has been inviting students from the US territories to attend their Summer School Program at some of the top universities across the country.

The Northern Mariana Islands has sent 348 students to this program over its 17 year history with the organization.

“The JSA program is geared towards developing leadership and strengthening academic skills in a real college setting.  This is a great opportunity for students to explore government and public service and experience college life,” says Sablan.

“I encourage the community and JSA Alumni to come out and support JSA and I strongly encourage students, especially high school juniors, to apply for the opportunity.” Kilili adds.

“Many of the JSA Alumni have become leaders in the community. A shining example is Ms. Roxanne Diaz, who is a Public Health Program Analyst at the CNMI Department of Public Health” explains Sablan.

Diaz shares that, “The Public Speaking course at the Yale University Summer Program certainly gave me a taste of what JSA was really about.  To realize the leader in me at such a forum did not come easy and ironically marked me for life.  The experience gained doing research and debating about issues that were significant to me was JSA's "planting a seed" moment in my young life that I still credit in both my personal and professional life today.”

The JSA Summer School Program is held at Georgetown, Princeton and Stanford Universities and geared towards students who are interested in government, politics and public service. Students take actual college level courses and have the opportunity to meet political leaders from all over the nation.

“The Department of the Interior is offering 4 complete scholarships to CNMI students this year, each valued at approximately $7,000. That puts the program in reach for many families who might not be able to participate otherwise in these tough economic times,” says Kilili.

“And planning for this opportunity does not only have to come only when you are juniors,” Kilili adds. “Ask about the program now and make your plan to attend 1, 2, or 3 years from now.”

JSA will be visiting the various CNMI High Schools throughout the week to speak to interested students. To find out more about the JSA Summer School Program, visit the JSA website at www.jsa.org.