SAIPAN, CNMI, February 4, 2026 — Northern Marianas College students will now have enhanced access to modern nursing education, high-fidelity simulation labs, and critical allied health training pathways through a landmark $2,309,193 grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.
The 36-month award, effective February 1, 2026, through January 31, 2029, empowers NMC’s Nursing Department to transform its programs and address CNMI’s urgent healthcare workforce needs.
“Helmsley’s investment reflects the urgency of preparing a skilled, local healthcare workforce for the CNMI,” said Walter Panzirer, a Trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust. “Northern Marianas College is strengthening nursing and allied health education in ways that improve readiness, expand access to high-need careers, and reduce reliance on off-island workers, benefiting patients and communities across the islands.”
The grant from the Helmsley Charitable Trust will help NMC transition its Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program to a concept-based curriculum, guided by external consultants, to enhance clinical judgment, align with national standards, and boost first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates past the 80% benchmark.
The grant will also fund a state-of-the-art nursing simulation and skills laboratory in the new Workforce Development Training Center, featuring high-fidelity manikins and control systems for safe, repeatable practice of critical scenarios.
Several of NMC’s key priorities include relaunching the Hemodialysis Technician Training Program—last offered in 2006—to meet standards for national certification and support CNMI’s only hospital amid rising chronic kidney disease and diabetes rates.
The College is expanding its Community Health Worker (CHW) Training and Certificate Program with two community-based cohorts funded under the Helmsley Charitable Trust grant. These cohorts will welcome a broader group of participants interested in the CHW field, preparing them to serve local communities. In partnership with the College’s Center for Training and Innovation (CTI) and Area Health Education Center (AHEC), this program will help further develop a culturally competent, locally trained CHW workforce aligned with the National C3 Core Competencies.
“This transformative grant positions NMC as a cornerstone for CNMI’s healthcare future, equipping our students with cutting-edge training and simulation tools while building sustainable pipelines for hemodialysis technicians and community health workers,” said Frankie Eliptico, Senior Vice President of Northern Marianas College. “By fostering a locally rooted workforce, we enhance patient care, cultural responsiveness, and economic resilience as federal worker programs phase out.”
“The entire nursing department is truly grateful for the support that will elevate our programs to new heights, providing students with innovative simulation training and pathways to vital healthcare roles right here in the CNMI,” said Rosa Aldan, Chair of NMC’s Nursing Department. “This funding ensures our graduates are prepared to deliver responsive care to our island communities.”
“We are very thankful for the generous support from the Helmsley Charitable Trust, which will empower Northern Marianas College to modernize our nursing and allied health programs, build critical workforce pathways, and secure a healthier future for the CNMI,” said Galvin Deleon Guerrero, EdD, President of Northern Marianas College. “This investment in our students and the NMI community will drive lasting impact for generations to come.”
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About Northern Marianas College
Northern Marianas College (NMC) is a land-grant institute accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission. Since its establishment in 1981, NMC has focused on meeting the higher education and vocational training needs of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). NMC’s mission is to cultivate stewardship through scholarship. Embracing its agency and cultural identity on the global stage, the college strives to take care of its community, resources, and people by cultivating the structured pursuit of knowledge across the CNMI.
About the Helmsley Charitable Trust
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has granted more than $4.5 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. Helmsley’s Rural Healthcare Program funds innovative projects that use information technologies to connect rural patients to emergency medical care, bring the latest medical therapies to patients in remote areas, and provide state-of-the-art training for rural hospitals and EMS personnel. To date, this program has awarded more than $850 million to organizations and initiatives in the states of Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and two U.S. Pacific territories, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. For more information, visit www.helmsleytrust.org.
