RMI sees big and small graduations

College of the Marshall Islands graduate Thurston Loeak celebrates after receiving his diploma at the May 31 graduation ceremony. Photo: Hilary Hosia.
College of the Marshall Islands graduate Thurston Loeak celebrates after receiving his diploma at the May 31 graduation ceremony. Photo: Hilary Hosia.

HILARY HOSIA

Following a speech that melted Marshallese hearts on Majuro and on social media, College of Marshall Islands Valedictorian Kelly Lorennij has been named keynote speaker for her alma mater Laura High School’s graduation Wednesday — where she previously spoke as the class valedictorian.

LHS and Marshall Islands High School are the last two public schools to hold graduations this year, with MIHS’ graduation Thursday.

Last week, Majuro held a triple graduation ceremony in a single day: CMI, Marshalls Christian High School and Ejit Elementary School.

CMI brought the biggest crowd among the three at the Meto yard at the former capital building in Delap, followed by MCHS at the United Church of Christ in Uliga. Ejit Elementary had the least number of grads and spectators, but given that nearly the entire population of Ejit attended the ceremony, it was the best attended of the three based on percentage of the population there in person.

KBE Acting Mayor Wilson Note congratulated the 12 students and the school on behalf of Mayor Anderson Jibas, who was on Kili.

“Knowledge is more powerful than the hydrogen bomb that was dropped on Bikini Atoll in 1954,” Wilson said.

Wilson also conveyed Jibas’ note of thanks via text message, with a special gratitude note to the two WorldTeach teachers.

“The number keeps declining,” Ejit Principal Connie Joel said. “We don’t know if our school will continue given the massive decline of students but it’s all in God’s hands.” MORIBA, she repeated. Men Otemjej Rej Iumin Bein Anij (everything is in God’s hands).

The CMI graduation featured record setting numbers of graduates for both Adult Basic Education (formerly GED) as well as those gaining CMI diplomas and certificates.

Read more about this in the June 8, 2018 edition of the Marshall Islands Journal.