Solving for X - OSC, KHS-YAP, and NHS High School Students Unite for a Beach Clean Up at Marine Beach

On February 7, 2026, Friends of the Mariana Trench (FOMT) Solving for X high school program supports Ocean Science Clubs (OSC) from Saipan Southern High School and Marianas High School joined forces with the Kagman High School (KHS) Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) Club and National Honors Society (NHS) for a beach clean-up at Marine Beach, Kagman. Funded by the Administration for Native Americans (ANA), Solving for X aims to create pathways to increase community interest in natural resource management policy and careers, while encouraging hands-on learning around real-world environmental challenges. This event supports Friends of the Mariana Trench’s (FOMT) mission to promote ocean conservation through education, community engagement, and youth leadership.“This clean-up was more than just removing trash - it was about building connections, sharing responsibility, and empowering our youth to care for our ocean,” said Alexi Rebuenog, Project Coordinator with FOMT.

“Currently, we have Ocean Science Clubs at Saipan Southern High School, Marianas High School, Tinian Jr./Sr. High School, and Rota Jr./Sr. Highschool,” said Alex Rebuenog. “Efforts to establish a club at Kagman High School are in progress and we look forward to more opportunities to collaborate with them.” 

This event marked a meaningful milestone as it was the first time high school students from FOMT’s Solving for X - OSC’s across Saipan collaborated on a single environmental stewardship activity, bringing together students, advisors, and volunteers to remove marine debris while learning about the impacts of pollution on coastal and marine ecosystems.

FOMT extends its sincere appreciation to the participating schools, advisors, students, and volunteers, and looks forward to expanding collaborative youth stewardship opportunities across the CNMI. 

For more information about Friends of the Mariana Trench and upcoming volunteer opportunities, please contact info@friendsmarianatrench.org or follow FOMT on social media. 

This publication was made possible by Grant Number 90NA8489 from the Administration for Native Americans. Its content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Administration for Native Americans or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.