Glimpses donates to NMC, backs regional education push

Glimpses of Guam, Inc. has directed this year’s charitable giving toward education, with a donation earmarked for the Northern Marianas College following a Zoom meeting held March 12, as part of a broader initiative that also supports the Trades Academy and the University of Guam.

During the virtual meeting, Glimpses CEO Marcus Fong said the effort is anchored on a long-term vision that goes beyond immediate assistance.

“We’re not just looking at short-term coverage,” Fong said. “We’re really trying to archive and chronicle community and business history in a way that benefits future generations.”

At NMC, president Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero welcomed the support, saying the funding will directly enhance classroom learning and student engagement.

“Any investment in technology is an investment in our students’ ability to compete,” Deleon Guerrero said. “These tools will help us deliver instruction more effectively, whether students are in the classroom or joining remotely.”

NMC plans to use the contribution to purchase classroom technology, including a smart monitor or smart board and a 360-degree Owl conferencing device to improve hybrid and virtual engagement.

College officials also highlighted ongoing expansion plans, noting that NMC is adding four new buildings, including a Workforce Training and Development Center that will house the School of Business.

Meanwhile, Glimpses of Guam publisher Maureen Maratita said the organization worked closely with regional partners to identify areas where funding could have the most impact, particularly at the University of Guam.

“We wanted to know how we could reach a number of students,” Maratita said. “What professor Manny Cruz suggested was that we support student editorial positions and also give the students access to Adobe Creative Cloud applications so that they can better design, edit and publish professionally.”

At UOG, the funding is already making a difference. Mikaela Atoigui, a senior and staff reporter for Triton’s Call, said paid editorial roles have allowed the publication to operate year-round.

“It’s a paid position, which is really great for future opportunities,” Atoigui said. “By having paid positions, we’re able to hire students and they can work even when they’re not in a class.”

For its part, the Trades Academy plans to use its share of funding to acquire state-of-the-art training equipment aligned with ship-repair industry standards, ensuring trainees are job-ready on the same machines used in the field. The academy is also scaling up vocational programs such as welding, electrical, and HVAC, with year-round classes serving about 300 students at any given time.

Fong said the coordinated support across institutions reflects a regional approach to workforce and skills development.

“If we can connect education, training, and storytelling, then we’re building something sustainable for the islands,” he said.