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JGO committee recommends confirmation of two SHEFA nominees
Summary
The Saipan Judicial and Governmental Investigation Committee voted unanimously to recommend Mayor's Communication 24-29 — the reappointment of Guadalupe Tenorio Atdao and the appointment of Paulette M. To Makani — after public endorsements and discussion about how SHEFA can better align scholarships with local workforce needs.
The Judicial and Governmental Investigation Committee voted to recommend confirmation of Guadalupe Tenorio Atdao and Paulette M. To Makani to the Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance (SHEFA) board, the committee chair announced following a motion and a unanimous committee vote.
The committee considered Mayor's Communication 24-29 and heard public testimony in support of both nominees. Mayor Ramon Camacho urged the committee to confirm the nominees, saying they "understand the role of the SHEFA" and can work with the board and SHEFA director to support students despite the current local financial crisis. Marissa Ressa, SHEFA administrator, praised Atdao’s leadership in strengthening the program’s fiscal and legislative coordination and read a letter of support for To Makani that detailed her decades of experience in the CNMI public school system.
During members' questions, committee members pressed nominees and staff about program challenges, including limited SHEFA staffing and constrained local funding. Senator Corina Uludong Mofna asked whether applicant numbers have changed; the administrator said applications have risen recently and noted a growth in vocational and online students but did not provide a specific percentage, describing an annual report as forthcoming.
Representative Vincent R. Aldan framed a broader workforce concern, recounting a case of a graduate with heavy debt and arguing that rapid changes in technology and automation make some academic pathways riskier for scholarship investment. "We need technicians," Aldan said, urging that SHEFA and schools promote stackable credentials and technical training so scholarship dollars support jobs that will remain locally in demand.
SHEFA staff described the program's compliance process: when a scholarship recipient fails to fulfill a memorandum-of-agreement service commitment, the award is converted into an interest-bearing loan and subject to collection processes. The administrator said compliance and collections work have improved since 2020 but remain labor-intensive; she said the board plans to examine policy updates and workforce data in forthcoming meetings to better align awards with local labor needs.
After discussion, a committee member moved and the vice chair seconded a report recommending confirmation of both nominees; the chair called for the vote, members said "I," and the chair stated the motion carried. The committee directed legal counsel and the legislative assistant to prepare the committee report recommending confirmation to the full body.
The meeting concluded with no changes on the committee level; the next step is consideration of the committee report by the full council.
