Interns reflect on growth, purpose at Chamber ceremony

The voices of student interns set the tone as they reflected on months of hands-on experience, mentorship, and personal growth during the Saipan Chamber of Commerce’s Career Pathways Internship Program end-of-commitment ceremony held last March 21 at Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.

“Being able to step into this kind of real-world experience is something I will always treasure,” said intern Destynee Aguon, who completed a six-month placement at PHI Pharmacy and was later hired part-time. “You’ve given us a chance to see what careers we’re interested in and what they’re really like. That’s a gift I’ll never forget.”

Aguon credited mentors and industry partners for creating a sense of belonging. “From the very beginning, many of us felt like we were part of your teams and not just students passing through,” she said. “That trust and sense of belonging meant so much.”

Fellow intern Liam Macatangay, who completed an 11-month placement at IT&E, said the experience exposed him to both technical skills and the realities of the workplace.

“Throughout these 11 months, I’ve had the chance to work closely with teams…from learning everything from printing cables to setting up routers,” he said. “This entire experience has been invaluable. I learned a lot, met a lot of great people, and I’m really grateful for the opportunity.”

Their remarks highlighted the program’s impact in bridging classroom learning with real-world application, a theme echoed by keynote speaker Dr. Jessica Taylor, director of Career and Technical Education for the Public School System.

“When you know your why, your what becomes more impactful,” Taylor said. “The internship program is not just about giving students something to do. It’s about helping them understand why what they’re doing matters.”

Taylor said students who understand their purpose “don’t just participate—they engage,” adding that the program helps shift education from abstract learning to meaningful, career-connected experiences.

“To our students, this program was about stepping into real environments…beginning to see yourselves not just as students but as future leaders, creators, and contributors to our community,” she said.

She also credited business partners for going beyond offering placements.

“You didn’t just offer placements—you offered mentorship. You opened your doors and said, ‘You belong here,’” Taylor said. “And that message…can change everything.”

The ceremony recognized interns from multiple cohorts who completed six-, nine-, and 11-month commitments across government agencies, private companies, and nonprofit organizations.

Interns and placements included: Andy Kim (office assistant, IP Operations, IT&E); Liam Macatangay (IT Department intern, IT&E); Brianna Paraiso (clinical intern, Saipan Humane Society); Edward Becina (consulting intern, Tupu Cane Juice); Zairon Madera (engineering/general maintenance intern, Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan); Alexandra Dalogdog (front office/guest service agent, Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan); Destiny Richards (office assistant, Transpacific International Inc.); Ashroy Mallik (consumer merchandising, Marianas Pacific Distributors Inc.); Jillian Mayes (administrative assistant, Pacifica Insurance Underwriters Inc.); Zion Jude Cabrera (administrative assistant, CNMI Department of Labor); Angel Grace Mano (office clerk, CNMI Department of Labor); Kawai’ana Camacho (administrative assistant, CNMI Department of Commerce); Elline Joy Seguritan (administrative assistant, CNMI Department of Finance); Reolie Oval (social media/videographer, CNMI Department of Finance); Destynee Aguon (pharmacy aide, PHI Pharmacy, hired post-internship); Masaioshy Sallem Jr. (kitchen operations assistant, Niao’s Poke Deli, hired post-internship); Fiona Zhu (news intern, Marianas Press); Zaira Llaga (sales administration intern, Atkins Kroll Saipan); Jaren Fernandez (administrative assistant, Saipan Chamber of Commerce); and Brit Malabanan (administrative assistant, Saipan Chamber of Commerce).

Closing the program, Chamber president Dr. Joshua Wise underscored the value of internships as a pipeline for both workforce development and hiring.

“Programs like this are your interviews,” Wise said. “It can show a company exactly what they’re looking for without having to even do an interview.”

He cited a case where an intern’s performance led to strong internal recommendations, eliminating the need to review a stack of applications.

“That’s what programs like this can help do for different companies and for students,” he said.

He thanked Chamber staff, education partners, and participating businesses for sustaining the initiative and emphasized its broader impact.

“The value they bring to our community is something that we hope to continue on in the future,” Wise said.