SSHS defends Build-A-Castle title

Saipan Southern High School has once again come out on top as the “King of Sandcastles” during yesterday’s Halloween-themed 3rd Annual Build-A-Castle Save-A-Reef competition at the Hyatt Regency Saipan’s beach side.

Four SSHS students and an adviser toiled under the scorching heat of the sun and humid afternoon breeze to defend their title in an effort that earned the group $300 cash plus a handcrafted trophy for the school.

Second place winner for the high school division was Rota High School while Kagman High School bagged the third place.

SSHS’ entry was entitled “The Haunted Ship,” a sand sculpture of a castle with a sunken ship in front. The school’s sculpture appeared to be the biggest sand sculpture entry in the competition. The school also won the “Starfish Award,” which is also known as the Spirit Award.

In the Junior Division, Saipan Community School snatched this year’s championship from previous winner, Chacha Oceanview Junior High School. SCS’s entry was a sand sculpture of a huge pumpkin with a Halloween castle on top of it. Last year’s winner Chacha had a grueling time rebuilding their sculpture when their huge pumpkin collapsed an hour before the deadline of the contest.

Rota Junior High School won second place, while first time participant Tanapag Junior High School bagged the third place. The Starfish Award or the Spirit Award went to Hopwood Junior High School, which joined the competition under the non-competitive category. HJHS sent Special Education students to witness and help in the construction of the school’s entry.

Thirteen private and public junior high and high schools participated in the cause-oriented event. Mount Carmel School, Grace Christian Academy High School and Grace Christian Academy Junior High School, Northern Marianas Academy, Saipan International School and Whispering Palms School also participated in the event.

Judges in yesterday’s contest were Joeten Motors general manager Joe Guerrero, Division of Environmental Quality officer Olivia Tebuteb and Hyatt Regency Saipan’s Rosalyn Castro. The judges unanimously said that what they looked for among the entries was the creativity that resulted from the team effort of each group.

Light in the Eve Foundation, a non-profit organization in the CNMI, sponsored the event. President Michelle Lin said the entire group is ecstatic with the turnout of the event.

“There’s more people this year,” she said.

Lin said proceeds of the event would go to the first CNMI Reef Cleanup Day next year as part of the foundation’s mission to help and contribute to the betterment and improvement of the community and its resources.

Lin said that discussion is ongoing between the organization and the private sector to extend the competition to the corporate and business community. “To make it as a corporate challenge,” she said.

Australian ‘sandologist’ Steve Machell also displayed his own creation during the event. He held a two-day workshop for the participants this week. Miss Marianas Universe Shequita Bennett also attended the event.