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Category: News
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Published: Monday, 18 September 2017 09:21
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Written by Bill Jaynes
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By Bill Jaynes
The Kaselehlie Press
Pohnpei, FSM SEP18, 2017
--Miss Kitti, Chasity Ann Salvador has been named as Pohnpei Miss Liberation Day after a crowning ceremony held at the PICS gymnasium this evening. Miss Sokehs, Zelain Perman was the first runner up. Miss Sapwuafik, Freida Abraham was the second runner up, and Miss Kolonia, Yasmine S. Ehpel was the third runner up.
During the crowning ceremony contestants participated in an “Urohs” (local skirt) competition during which they had to explain the significance to their culture of their elaborately embroidered skirts. They also were each asked a single question and the judges evaluated their responses as part of their decisions.
Outside of the crowning ceremony the contestants participated in a float contest and also were required to raise funds. The four contestants together raised over $20,000 in just a few weeks. The amounts they raised were also figured into the final results of the contest. 50 percent of that money will be used to offset some of the considerable expense of the Liberation Day festivities and the sporting events leading up to it. The remaining amount will go back to the individual contestants for scholarship purposes.
Lululeen Santos said that the organizers envision a much large competition next year with more of the municipalities participating. The dream for upcoming competitions is to establish a scholarship fund from the fund raising activities of the contestants.
She said that all of the activities the contestants participated in did figure into the final results of the pageant, it worked out through coincidence that the order of the winners followed along with the amount of money each of the contestants raised. She said the contest was not designed that way but that was the way it ended up. Miss Kitti raised over $7500. Miss Sokehs raised over $7000. Miss Sapwuafik raised over $4000, and Miss Kolonia was able to raise over $2000.
Santos said that the idea for the competition came late for the organizing committee. Though representatives of each of Pohnpei’s municipalities said they would provide contestants from their municipalities only six did. Because of the limited time to prepare contestants, two of the municipalities decided it would be best to refrain from the contest. Santos said that it was up to each of the municipalities to determine how their contestants would be selected.
Read more: Miss Kitti crowned as Miss Pohnpei Liberation Day
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Category: News
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Published: Monday, 18 September 2017 09:24
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Written by Pacific Community
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Pacific Community
11 August, 2017
Chuuk, FSM - His Excellency, Peter M. Christian, President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), held a high-profile National Youth Conference from 8‒10 August in the state of Chuuk to mark International Youth Day 2017. In his keynote address, the President reflected on the need to focus on peacebuilding following periods of difficulty, “It is okay to fall, but it is more important to pick yourself up afterwards.” He encouraged youth delegates to persevere for their aspirations.
The theme of International Youth Day, “Youth building peace” is a significant one for the Pacific region as it speaks to the role of young people in seeking opportunities to shape their futures and live happily in peace. The theme is also engrained in the Pacific Youth Development Framework (2014‒2023), which was developed by SPC working with partners and youth. The Framework is a guide for addressing youth issues in the region through the development of programmes and policies in both the youth sector and across other development sectors. One of its strategic approaches is an inclusive rights-based approach that specifies the importance of involving young people in decision-making. When young people are included in policymaking process, leaders can make more informed and more successful policy decisions.
Read more: Youth shape future at International Youth Day Conference in the FSM
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Category: News
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Published: Monday, 18 September 2017 09:26
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Written by Kpress
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The Micronesian Registration Advisors, Inc. (MRA) held a small ceremony at their Kolonia office to commemorate the Center for Entrepreneurship’s (Center) four years of ongoing success. The Center operates within the College of Micronesia-FSM’s (COM-FSM) National Campus. Its mission is to collaborate with motivated students who want to find innovative solutions to needs within their community.
The Center was established in 2014 after MRA provided a $250,000 gift to COM-FSM over a five-year period. The ceremony coincided with MRA’s delivery of its fourth funding installment. Although the Center has won several grants for its activities, MRA remains the program’s primary benefactor. MRA also connected the Center with University of Hawaii’s Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship by bringing its former Executive Director, Susan Yamada, to Pohnpei in February of 2016 and provided an additional $30,000 to allow the Center to hire an assistant.
All of this giving has added up in a big way. The Center has proudly worked alongside dozens of entrepreneurial students who have taken advantage of the Center’s workshops, competitions, events, and even a small business incubator. In most cases, it is the students who drive the Center’s projects by identifying community needs and finding unique solutions. Textbooks are too expensive? Students started a peer group textbook rental service. Imported produce is too expensive? Students have built hydroponic systems all over Pohnpei that can grow lettuce, tomato, and other crops. Need a website? Students have made websites for the FSM Post Office, Cliff Rainbow Hotel, and the National Fisheries Corporation. The Center was also a strong supporter of this year’s Friday Food Fashion Festival (aka “F4”), which showcased dozens of student-operated businesses at the Spanish Wall baseball field in Kolonia.
MRA has said it is excited to see what COM-FSM’s talented students will come up with next. The Center recently won a $36,000 grant from the Department of Interior’s Technical Assistance Program to build two greenhouses to try out hydroponics on a commercial level. The Center has already expanded its operations to Pohnpei Campus and hopes to support students on Yap, Chuuk, and Kosrae campuses as well. As Erika Billen, a co-founder of the student-operated business Hydroponics of the Pacific stated, “I always had ideas, but the Center for Entrepreneurship gave me the resources and encouragement I needed to make it a reality. My words are now actions.”
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Category: News
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Published: Monday, 18 September 2017 09:29
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Written by Konrad Englberger, IFCP
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By: Konrad Englberger, IFCP - SEP 18, 2017
During the “Green Day” celebration which was held on September 2. 2017 at the Botanical Garden, Island Food Community of Pohnpei (IFCP) demonstrated to a group of women how to make flour from banana, taro and Breadfruit.
Konrad Englberger, IFCP Researcher who conducted the demonstration informed the participants that local made banana, taro and breadfruit flour is very high in Dietary Fiber, Calcium, Magnesium, Protein, Iron, Potassium and Vitamins, compared to imported white flour. IFCP has given flour mills and provided training to all the Municipalities in Pohnpei and Pohnpei Outer Islands to promote locally made nutritious food. IFCP hopes that people make use of these milling machines.
One of the IFCP Goals is, that people use more locally made food and to reduce the high number of NCDs, Non-Communal Diseases.
The research work conducted at IFCP concluded that a high quality, nutrient rich flour can be produced from local products like bananas, breadfruit and swamp taro with skin and without skin for a competitive price. Food tasting with banana, taro and breadfruit flour using different recipes was of high quality and was well accepted.
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Category: News
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Published: Monday, 18 September 2017 09:31
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Written by Kpress
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The Rotary Club of Pohnpei, Inc. and Vital Petroleum wish to announce the winners of the First Annual Vital Scholarship program.
Vital is graciously funding a new scholarship for the 2017-2018 school year and has awarded four scholarships of $5,000.00 each this first year. Vital is looking to increase its local staff and hire FSM student graduates who successfully complete their degrees in fields that are required in their business. The primary focus is on engineering and certain sciences, accounting and certain business majors, and agriculture.
The Rotary Club of Pohnpei handled the application process. Vital also donated another $5,000.00 to the Rotary Club for the Rotary Club of Pohnpei annual scholarships. That donation was also much appreciated.
With Vital having the final approval we are proud to announce four win ners.
• Pamela Fredrick Comp. Science E. Oregon $5,000.00
• Erick Paul MBA Chaminade U. $5,000.00
• Allston Abraham Accounting U. of Guam $5,000.00
• Jamilynn Mooteb Physics St. Josephs $5,000.00
Congratulations to the winners of the first annual scholarship. There were many applications and qualified applicants. It was very difficult to choose the top candidates. These winners also will be provided opportunities through Vital, giving them a step up on all the other students looking for job opportunities after graduation.
For all those who applied, we want to encourage you to re-apply next year. Please note though the focus of the scholarship is for areas of study that will provide employment opportunities at Vital.
For more information, the next application process will start in March, 2018. Contact any Rotary Club member or Vital management for details.
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Category: News
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Published: Monday, 18 September 2017 09:33
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Written by Pohnpei Fishing Club
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Pohnpei Fishing Club
The 5th Annual Matson tourney was held on Saturday, August 26. We had 15 boats registered and it was a good day out for fishing. Sometimes a nice day is not the best for fishing, but some anglers still knew how to bring in the fish. It was a beautiful day though and all the boats had an enjoyable time.
Matson and Amcres put up $2,000.00 in prizes. There was a lot of competitive action for these prizes.
The winners are listed below:
1ST BIGGEST FISH $700
• 65lb YELLOWFIN – ISAIAH HAWLEY
2ND BIGGEST FISH $400
• 35.9lb YELLOWFIN – JEFF AINGEMEA
3RD BIGGEST FISH $300
• 23.1lb MAHI MAHI – AQUINO RINGLEN
4TH BIGGEST FISH $200
• 20.7lb MAHI MAHI – MARCUS SOHL
SPECIES
BIGGEST SKIP JACK $100
• 16.5lb WELBERT DAVID
BIGGEST WAHOO $100
• 10.1lb DANE NIGHSWANDER
BIGGEST BARRACUDA $100
• 19.6lb SOPHIE FINNEN
JUNIOR ANGLER $50
• NICOLE PETERSON –10.6lb BARRACUDA
We want to thank Matson and Amcres for all their help in putting on a great tournament. The barbecue supported the Pohnpei Public Library, which provides much needed services to our children.
Many thanks to those who helped out, including Dr.Hedson running the weigh in, Tina, Melinda, Uta and all of Kumer ’s guys.
A big crowd attended the weigh in. All the winners enjoyed their prizes. The biggest fish was a 65 pound yellow fin caught by Isaiah Hawley, a really nice fish.
Thanks again to our sponsors, and we will see you at the next tournament.
