Wolf, youngest to be admitted to Interact Club

The Jonathan Wolf and his family pose with the Rotary Club Saipan’s board members after he served as guest speaker during the organization’s weekly meeting yesterday at the Hyatt Regency Saipan. From left, Rotary board members Wendell Posadas and Sapuro Rayphand, Wolf’s father Leslie, Rotary board member Curtis Dancoe, Wolf’s mother Johanne, Rotary board members Eli Stoilova and Pete Schilling, Jonathan Wolf, Rotary board member Sonya Dancoe, Rotary vice president Brian Clayton, and Rotary president Ivan Ilmov. (Erwin Encinares)

Yesterday, 12-year-old Jonathan Wolf, the guest speaker of the Rotary Club of Saipan weekly meeting, impressed many of the board members with a speech at the Hyatt Regency Saipan. Especially impressed was Rotary board member Sapuro Rayphand, who immediately processed the admittance of Wolf into the Interact Club, the high school counterpart of Rotary Club of Saipan.

Rayphand was very proud to announce that Wolf would be the youngest to be admitted into the Interact Club.

“This is the first time we have a kid that young to be admitted in the Interact. That is very special, so I had to ask the board for permission and they said, ‘no problem,’” said Rayphand.

Rayphand also expressed how delighted he was now that Wolf was in the Interact Club. Rayphand is now targeting Wolf’s older brother, Kelvin. “I was so happy. He would probably be with the high school kids and maybe his older brother. I’d like to see both of them together because they’re coaching each other so we are just expanding the more exciting things for both of them.”

When skill met talent in Wolf, Rayphand was simply mindblown. “When he talked like a really mature kid, I said, I recognize that talent, I want to tap into that! It’s a waste if you don’t push the kids that got the talent. It’s a good thing the mother and father are willing to give him the chance,” said Rayphand.

“I’m grateful that the board agrees and that he should be admitted,” added Rayphand.

“There is a high school, Marianas High School, president for the Interact [Club there] her name is Coleen Duenas. There is another high school president for Interact at Kagman High, her name is Andrea Camacho. If the family is closer to either place, they can go talk to them and tell them that I said that this kid should be admitted and be membered. The youngest ever. His ability to communicate and to be able to convey anything is special,” added Rayphand in reference to Wolf’s admission into Interact.

Rayphand also sees this as an opportunity to prove to others that hard work pays off. “We want to recognize kids and say this is your model, you should work as hard.”

In full faith of the future generation, Rayphand claims,”Kids are very smart. Given the opportunity they can go anywhere; they can compete anywhere. Whatever’s good for the kids is good for the community as well.”

One of the first teachers of the Marianas High School, Rayphand taught high school English since 1969 and practiced law after. Rayphand also served the community for a few years.

The younger Wolf recently made CNMI history when he finished first in the Declamation category of the 2016 National and Junior National Speech & Debate National Tournament held last June in Salt Lake City, Utah.