Students of Northern Marianas College have made their voices heard by recently electing new officers to the college’s student government body, the Associated Students of NMC (ASNMC). The new officers are Bonnie Gio Sagana, President; Maria Daniella Sablan, Vice President; Xinyi “Rain” Ni, Secretary; Richard R. Baleares, Treasurer; and Senators Andrielle Coloma, Remedio “Bedu” Dela Cruz, and Jude D. Litulumar.
For Sagana, this year marks his third consecutive election to ASNMC, and notably, it is his second term as ASNMC President. When reflecting on his decision to run for another term, Sagana emphasized his commitment to the student population served by ASNMC.
“I have not lost any passion for being a student-centric leader and have actually gained more love for serving my community,” Sagana said. “The reason why I ran for ASNMC for my third year was because I felt a sense of connection with the population I was serving. I have seen the amount of success that many students are able to achieve even without support, but I know how important it is to have that voice in a student leader to be able to feel represented in the bigger picture.”
In addition to leading NMC’s student government body, Sagana is also the President of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society for this academic year.
ASNMC’s newly elected Vice President, Maria Daniella Sablan, is currently in her second year at NMC, pursuing an associate degree in Business with a focus on Computer Applications.
“I decided to run for student government because I deeply value the pride of being a PROA and am devoted to upholding the values of what makes a PROA,” said Sablan.
Alongside Sagana, Sablan is an officer of PTK, serving as Public Relations Secretary. Additionally, she is the Public Information Officer for the NMC Environmental Natural Resource Organization (ENRO) Club.
“My passion for our college drives me to be a voice for our student body. I firmly believe that every student deserves to be heard, and my commitment is to ensure that happens. My goal is to foster a student government that reflects and supports our diverse voices and needs,” said Sablan.
She added, “I am committed to giving my all in return. This is just the start of my journey, and I am eager to collaborate with other ASNMC officers to make a positive impact.”
Serving as ASNMC’s newly elected Secretary, Xinyi “Rain” Ni is a second-year student pursuing an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts with an emphasis on Education. For Ni, student leadership is more than just a title; it is her way of connecting across languages.
“Being actively involved has always been more than just a passion for me; it’s been a way to connect, grow, and give back. Even when I barely spoke English in elementary school, I chose to run for STUCO because I believed in the power of student voices,” said Ni.
She added, “Over the years, I’ve held various leadership roles, each one shaping me and deepening my commitment to making a difference. Now, as I continue that journey at NMC, I’m eager to bring my unique perspective, voice, and energy to contribute meaningfully to our community.”
Looking forward to this year’s collaboration between the newly elected officers, Ni is excited about the teamwork ahead.
“This role isn’t just about representation; it’s about collaboration, service, and making an impact. I’m excited to work alongside the ASNMC team to make this school year memorable, ensuring that every voice is heard and every student feels included.”
Majoring in Business Management, newly elected ASNMC Treasurer Richard R. Baleares’s passion for leadership inspired him to join the college’s student government body.
“I decided to run for ASNMC because I’m passionate about leadership and want to contribute to our campus community in a meaningful way,” said Baleares.
Before joining student government, Baleares held various leadership roles in multiple organizations, serving as Director and President.
“I’ve gained valuable experience through my previous roles, notably in the Rotaract Club of Saipan, which included three consecutive terms as President. I believe these experiences have equipped me to help make a positive impact on our students, campus, and school,” said Baleares.
Alongside Sagana and Sablan, Baleares is an officer for the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, serving as Vice President. He also expressed gratitude to those who supported his decision to run for ASNMC.
“I’d like to thank ASNMC & PTK President Bonnie Gio Sagana for encouraging me to run, and former ASNMC Vice President and Rotaract Saipan Secretary Jefferson Cunanan for sharing his insights. I’m also grateful to my friends, especially Brianna Hunter, Brent Espineda, Troy Rosimo, and Dan Salde for their advice and support, as well as everyone I’ve met through Rotaract and Rotary in Saipan, Guam, Japan, and Taiwan.”
Newly elected ASNMC Senator Andrielle Coloma is pursuing her Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts. She is a Proa Pathways scholar in cohort 2B and is set to be inducted into PTK.
“I wanted to share the voices of NMC students and help make decisions that directly impact us while representing our school,” said Coloma.
Looking forward to the future of ASNMC, Coloma is excited about working with familiar faces in the new officer team.
“When I heard about the outcome of this election, I was ecstatic to be part of the team. I’ve worked with some of these people separately in the past, and I’m so grateful to now be working with them as one,” she said.
Remedio “Bedu” Dela Cruz, another newly elected ASNMC Senator, is pursuing an Associate in Liberal Arts. In the final year of her program, Dela Cruz wanted to contribute to the campus community before graduating and leaving the island.
“I ran for student government because it seemed like an amazing opportunity to take before leaving home. It’s something I’m familiar with, and helping NMC at a deeper level was something I wanted to pursue. I wanted to help our students and ensure their voices are heard,” said Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz is also a Proa Pathways scholar alongside Coloma in cohort 2B and will soon be inducted into PTK.
Jude D. Litlulumar, majoring in Natural Resource Management, is one of the three newly elected ASNMC Senators. Like his peers, Litlulumar wanted to give back to the college community before graduating and transferring to Portland State University.
“I ran for student government because it’s my last year at NMC, and I wanted a chance to contribute more to the school and help plan events that students will enjoy and benefit from,” said Litlulumar.
In addition to his role as ASNMC Senator, Litlulumar is an active campus member, participating in the NMC ENRO Club, serving as Secretary for NMC’s Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS), and being part of cohort 2B of the Proa Pathways Scholars. He is also set to be inducted into PTK.