Palau Community College
MESEKIU'S
NEWS
Friday, January 11, 2008 Weekly Newsletter Volume 10, Issue 2
|
Palau Community College MESEKIU'S NEWS |
|
Friday, January 11, 2008 Weekly Newsletter Volume 10, Issue 2 |
||
|
WESTOP Board Meets with Tellei and Palau Leadership, |
||
|
|
anytime," he said. Tellei also used the opportunity to highlight the work of the PCC TRIO staff, commending them for making it possible for disadvantaged students in Palau to make their dreams of going to college a reality. Since its establishment in 1983 at PCC, Upward Bound program has seen a vast number of its alumni successfully complete college and return back to Palau as leaders in their professional field of expertise. The group also had the opportunity to make the beautiful drive on the recently-finished Compact Road to visit the Palau Capitol in Ngerulmud. While there, they held separate meetings with the Palau leadership, beginning with Senate President Surangel Whipps, Speaker of the House of Delegates Antonio Bells and then on to a meeting in the Oval Office with Republic of Palau President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. President Remengesau and the OEK leadership were all united in their expression of appreciation and support for the WESTOP-TRIO programs. In expressing his appreciation, President Remengesau said that the WESTOP consortium is an excellent partnership, citing the achievements of the programs hosted locally at Palau Community College. "TRIO programs have been some of the most successful programs on island and with your visit, you can experience that first hand," he said during the meeting. Remengesau also stressed that nation building for a small island country such as Palau cannot be achieved without added emphasis on education by organizations such as WESTOP. "TRIO has been key in producing some of Palau's great leaders, and one of them is the new governor of the State of Aimeliik, Leilani N. Reklai," Remengesau shared (Continued on page 2) |
|
|
The Board of Directors of Western Association of Educational Opportunity Personnel (WESTOP), a consortium of education professionals representing U.S. Department of Education- funded TRIO programs such as the Upward Bound (UB), Upward Bound Math & Science (UBMS), Educational Talent Search (ETS), and Student Support Services (SSS) wrapped up their week-long visit to Palau yesterday. The visit which included a with a meeting with Palau Community College (PCC) President Dr. Patrick U. Tellei on Monday, courtesy visits with ROP President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. as well as with the leadership of both houses of the Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) was the group's first official trip to Palau. Headed by WESTOP President Joy S. Brittain who is also the Director of the Upward Bound Math & Science program at Pasadena City College in California, the group of twelve board members met with PCC President Tellei to discuss the progress and positive impact the WESTOP-TRIO |
programs have had on education in Palau, spanning over two decades back. President Tellei, accompanied by Vice President of Administration and Finance Jay Olegeriil, who is himself an alumni of Upward Bound, Upward Bound Director Kuye Belelai and Upward Bound Math & Science Director Tchuzie Tadao, expressed his gratitude for the WESTOP Board in choosing Palau as a site for their first-ever meeting in the region, considering other places such as Guam, CNMI, FSM, RMI, and American Samoa are also WESTOP-TRIO host countries. Welcoming the group, Tellei briefly went over the history of the WESTOP-TRIO programs at PCC. "Palau Community College which today hosts four of programs (UB, UBMS, ETS, SSS), began with one program- Upward Bound - in 1983, serving only high school juniors and seniors numbering less than fifty. Today, over 1000 elementary, high school, and PCC students including qualified adults, reap benefit from services offered by the four programs combined and that is an accomplishment I am happy to share |
|
|
(Continued from page 1) |
After the meeting with President Remengesau, the WESTOP Board of Directors also had a chance to meet with Presidential Chief of Staff and Compact of Free Association negotiator Reverend Billy Kuartei. Kuartei said that Palau is thankful for associations such as WESTOP as Palau is a small country and needs all the leverage possible to make itself visible and heard in the U.S. national arena. He said that he wholeheartedly supports the WESTOP agenda of helping students go to College and succeed. "Many of our students would have not been able to go to college had it not been for the services you offer to help them get-in, stay-in, and graduate," Kuartei said. Kuartei also told the group that preparation is already underway for the Compact's 15th year review with the U.S. in 2009. "Palau has asked for early discussions and the U.S. has agreed so the meetings are slated to begin in March," he said. Offering its assistance, WESTOP President Brittain made a commitment on behalf of the board to do what it can to help Palau in its negotiations, especially in the arena of education. (Continued on page 3) |
|
|
CSO Holds Two-Day Retreat at Ngidch Island |
||
|
On the last weekend of 2007, we, the Chuuk Student Organization (CSO) went on a two-day retreat to Ngidch Island. The retreat taught us to be self-reflecting and be worry-free. There were activities that helped us to be self- reflecting and one with nature. For instance, we were separated into groups of five, picking up |
any object on the island and sharing with the group how we related to that object. However, before these activities began, the CSO gathered around the prayer center and shared the gospel of the Lord in both Chuukese and English languages accompanied with Chuukese hymns. |
The activities, the sharing, the breeze of the wind, the rocking of the sea on the shore... all these just made the night so tranquilizing, it helped me and reminded me of how unfocused and distracted I was last semester. This trip was life saving, it helped me realize how sidetracked I was and the activities helped me let go of all my troubles and worries. On behalf of the CSO, my big "Thank You" to the attending facilitators of the retreat; Rose Aliven-Kohama, Elizabeth de Jong, Uroi Salii, Oshiro Lorin, and Keitani Graham and those facilitators who were not able to attend; Samantha Bells and Derbei Meyar. And of course, we cannot leave out our boat drivers Mars Ngirmeriil, Iyechad Ngirmeriil, and our chaperone, Dwayne Masami. |
|
|
||
BITS AND PIECES... REMINDER Spring Semester Starts Monday...
CONDOLENCES Our Condolences Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during your most difficult time of sorrow and grief. REMINDER New Library Hours... PCC library will be having the following schedule during the Christmas break until January 13, 2008. Regular PCC library hours will resume on January 14, 2008. Mon-Fri. 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Sat. 9:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. Sun. 12:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. |
Japanese University Students Visit College
|
|
|
Nine students from Tezukayama University, one of the prestigious schools in Japan that focuses on the special needs and care of human behavior, visited the campus earlier this week with their teachers and a translator. Visiting the campus was just one of the many activities on their itinerary as they learned about the Palauan culture. |
Students from other Japanese universities have also visited and/or studied at the College as part of the College's articulation agreements with schools such as Waseda University, the University of the Ryukyus, and Japan Aviation Academy. Students from the Niigata College of Art & Design have also been visiting the College every year. |
|
|
(Continued from page 2)
|
||
|
Taking President Remengesau's advice to make time between meetings to see the rest of the island, the group was able to visit many places and sites that Palau is known for. They toured the big island of Babeldaob with a stop at the Ngardmau Waterfalls. They also took a scenic boat ride to visit Peleliu, after which they stopped for lunch at the Rock Islands. |
The group also enjoyed lunches and dinners hosted by the House of Delegates, PCC, and TRIO staff and alumni. The bulk of the group left last night with the remaining members scheduled to leave this weekend after holding their last meeting this afternoon with PCC TRIO staff. |
|
ALUMNI NOTES: Class of
2007 (PCC) Class of 2000 & 1997 (PCC) Class of 1988 (MOC) Alumni Notes showcases MOC/PCC alumni who contribute to the quality of life in their local community and are postive role models for other PCC students to emulate. If you are that alumni or know someone who is, please contact the PCC Development Office at telephone number 488-2471. We would like to feature you in future issues of the Mesekiu's News. Previous Mesekiu Issues: |
More Show Support to Endowment Fund Beverly Subris of the Ministry of Education-Palau High School; Arthur Remeliik of the Ministry of Resources & Development- Bureau of Public Works; and Teofilus Ngiraklei of the Ministry of Resources & Development- Water Treatment Plant are the newest members of the Endowment Fund. Johnny Tudong of the Ministry of Education- Ngardmau Elementary School is already a supporter of the Endowment Fund and has recently increased his bi-weekly allotment. PCC welcomes the new supporters of the Endowment Fund and invites others who have not signed up to show their support as well. The College also thanks Tudong for his continued support and encourages others who may want to help more. For more information about the PCC Endowment Fund, please contact Hulda, Dilubch, or Koyungil at the Development office at 488- 2470 ext. 253. |
|
|
5th Annual Governor Tauese P.F. Memorial Coral Reef Conservation Summer Scholarship Award |
||
|
The United States Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) is pleased to announce the 5th Annual Governor Tauese P.F. Sunia Memorial Coral Reef Conservation Summer Scholarship Award, in recognition of the late Governor Tauese P.F. Sunia. This is a competitive award, in which two excellent students from Guam, the CNMI, Hawaii, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or the Freely Associates States of Palau, the RMI, and the FSM, will be selected to receive a three-month, expenses-paid summer scholarship working on coral reef management initiatives with an agency member of the USCRTF in Washington D.C. Eligibility Application Selection Timetable |
Award winner notified: March 14, 2008 Application Material Application material may be sent by mail, fax, or email and must be received no later than February 29, 2008, 5:00 p.m. EST, to the following: USCRTF Governor Sunia Award Contact |
|
|
|
||
Palau they should make time to visit Palau's renowned Rock Islands
and favorite attractions such as Jelly Fish Lake and the Waterfall of Ngardmau. 
