PSS happy with performance of delegates in NFL

Despite coming home empty-handed, the Public School System still lauded the effort shown by students who participated in the recently concluded National Forensic League held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

PSS associate commissioner for administrative services David M. Borja said the CNMI contingent did not disappoint them at all during the competition, which was held from June 4 to June 20.

In fact, Borja said, they made a great impression in the overall standing in the competition.

He said the 17 students who participated in the event did very well. Eight students came from the Marianas High School, four from Saipan Southern High School and one from Calvary Christian Academy.

The participants were from 9th to 12 grade and joined events in the competition such as debate, interpretations, oratory, speeches, prose, and storytelling among others.

The students from MHS were Gretchen Smith, Ronn Arii, Joan Liwanag, Jennifer Jang, Matthew Quiatchon, Ah Hil Kim, Cherry Lou Rojo, and James Castro. Participants from SSHS were Madelline Jacob, Rose Wakit, Travis Calvo, and Tommy Shim. The lone CCA representative was Priscilla Norman.

MHS students Emily Jang, Alexa Yamashita, Kelvin Rodeo, and Jon Brian Tabora participated in the International Thespian Society festival last month and, according to their coach, the students made waves during the festival.

Borja also joined the participants during the competition held in Portland, Los Angeles, Norfolk, Greensboro, and Omaha. Other coaches who attended the competition were Harold Easton, Bertha Leon Guerrero, Marilee Norman, Michelle Rasa, Andrew Golden, Anthony Calvo, and Magiel Smith.

Borja said with the rate the students of the CNMI are performing in national competitions, the PSS would always be behind these students for support.

In a related story, CNMI students who competed in the Middle School Forensic League held in San Antonio, Texas, bagged several top five awards, besting more than 3,000 participants during the competition last month.

Eucon International School’s 6th grader Dong Hyun Shim bagged third place in the Storytelling category. Cha Cha Oceanview Junior High School’s Mercilyn Kaneshi, an 8th grader, took home fourth place for the same category, while Krystele Anne Chavez bagged 5th place in the Declamation category. Chavez is a 6th grade student from Calvary Christian Academy.