As hundreds of Marshallese high school students graduate from schools in Majuro, Kwajalein, Wotje and Jaluit over the next couple of weeks, three Marshallese are graduating from schools far from the RMI or the United States.
Of course, many dozens of Marshallese teenagers living in the US have been or are graduating this month.
Three Marshallese, however, lived away from their families for most of their two years at United World Colleges around the world, completing their globally recognized international baccalaureate diplomas.
All three graduated on May 23, the day of graduation for the 18 UWC schools around the globe.
Nelu Jelke received his diploma in Japan last weekend with many family members in attendance. He is the fourth Marshallese high school student to graduate from UWC ISAK Japan.
Nelu, a former Majuro Cooperative High School student, told the Journal that he’s been accepted to the four-year private liberal arts university Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania.
Kiyo Kaneko became the first Marshallese student to graduate from the UWC school in Bosnia and Herzegovina when she received her diploma last weekend at United World College in Mostar, with her mother, Kina Morelik in attendance.
Kiyo, the second Seventh Day Adventist High School student to receive a UWC scholarship, has been accepted by the Marist University in New York State. It is also a small private liberal arts university on the East Coast.
Layla Tibon graduated last weekend from UWC South East Asia in Singapore. She is the third Marshallese student to graduate from UWCSEA.
Layla, who attended Majuro Cooperative High School before winning the UWC scholarship, told the Journal she is considering university opportunities in Australia and Taiwan.
Her parents Emma and Sherwood Tibon and other family members were on hand for the graduation in Singapore.
There is currently one ongoing Marshallese student at UWCSEA — Haileeana Lokiar, formerly of Assumption. SDA High School student Richston Orgen, Jr. will join her this August when he becomes the fifth Marshallese to study at the UWC schools in Singapore.
The application period for UWC scholarships for the 2027-2029 school years will open in the October-November period this year.
The United World College National Committee, which manages the scholarship program locally, visits local high schools to promote the scholarship opportunity and publicizes it on social media, radio interviews and news in the Journal.