\n\t\t\t\tMembers of the National Junior Forensic League pose for a photo after their showcase last Saturday at the Hopwood Jr. High School cafeteria. (Contributed Photo)\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n
\nSixteen student competitors of the high school National Speech and Debate Association put on a special showcase presentation Monday evening at the San Antonio Social Hall. The state champions performed their pieces from the category they championed in the March regional competition.<\/p>\nThis year\u2019s national team include the tandem of Marianas High School\u2019s Yuuki Nishida and Jayrald Mercene, who will represent the islands in duo interpretation. Marianas Baptist Academy\u2019s Kanata Omori will compete in the U.S extemporaneous speech category. Mount Carmel School\u2019s Thomas Manglona II will compete in the Lincoln-Douglas Debate; MHS\u2019 Masrur Alam, in the foreign extemporaneous speech; Saipan Southern High School\u2019s Katrina Punzlan, original oratory; SSHS\u2019 Trianna Del Rosario, Chamorro dramatic interpretation; MBA\u2019s Alina Ishikawa, dramatic interpretation, MCS\u2019 Soon Hyung Kwon, humorous interpretation; SSHS\u2019 Devina Atalig, Chamorro poetry; Grace Christian Academy\u2019s Minna Ito, expository speech; MHS\u2019 Ann Norcio, commentary; Saipan International School\u2019s Minori Yoshida, prose; GCA\u2019s Yujin Lee, poetry; GCA\u2019s Dong Ha Lee, storytelling; and MHS\u2019 Scarlet Chen, impromptu.<\/p>\n
According to NSDA practice and showcase coordinator Dencio V. Manglona, Monday\u2019s event followed countless hours of volunteer work from teacher coaches and tremendous effort from students and their parents. \u201cWe put a lot of work and effort into this showcase and practiced the past two months. I feel this team is strong,\u201d Manglona, a former high school NSDA competitor, said. \u201cI feel this is a strong team\u2026the team will support each other when they need to and stay strong.\u201d <\/p>\n
The students are expected to leave island on Saturday and make their way to Overland Park, Kansas, where they will represent the CNMI in their categories and compete with over 5,000 other students from around the globe from June 15 to 20.<\/p>\n
One competitor, Kanata Omori, said he is more than prepared for the competition. \u201cI am prepared for this trip. This should be fun. I am looking forward to meeting new people and competing against the best of the best.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fellow competitor and 2013 junior forensic league 3rd place national dramatic interpretation champion Yu Jin Lee expressed similar sentiment. <\/p>\n
\u201cEach year is a new group of students and new competition. I remind myself that there is always room for improvement as I continue to practice for the national competition,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe showcase was an unforgettable experience,\u201d Masrur Alam told Saipan Tribune. \u201cThis is my first time competing and I am looking forward to competing against other students from around the world. I hope we all do our very best.\u201d<\/p>\n
One parent, Victoria Nishida, said, \u201cIt was awesome to see great improvement with the performances. \u2026Every year they improve and I am really proud of them. Every time they go to the national level they make it a point to learn new things.\u201d<\/p>\n
The students practiced to perfect their pieces over the past weeks under the guidance of coaches Harold Easton and Dencio Manglona from Marianas High School, Frank Borja and Andrew Golden from Saipan Southern High School, Keith Tessen and Celia Jang from Saipan International School, and Filmah Buenaflor and Tobed Smith from Mount Carmel School. Marianas Baptist Academy\u2019s Gospel Trinidad and Eleonor Alejo, and Grace Christian Academy\u2019s Ami Joy Danganan and Daniel Dilse also served as coaches for this year\u2019s national team. <\/p>\n
The National Junior Forensic League also held its showcase last Saturday at the Hopwood Junior High School cafeteria in anticipation of the national competition. The members of the NJFL team representing the CNMI are Northern Marianas International School\u2019s Candice Aldan, for original oratory; GCA\u2019s Dianne Arnold and Pegg Pixley, for duo interpretation; and MBA\u2019s Minju Kang, for prose reading interpretation. Esther Kim from GCA will be representing the island in poetry; MBA\u2019s Won Kwon Kim, for Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Hyun In Noh, extemporaneous speech; Saipan Community School\u2019s Esther Park, storytelling; MCS\u2019 Reica Ramirez, impromptu; Grace Christian\u2019s Melody Woo, humorous interpretation; and Hopwood\u2019s Kelvin Wolf, for Dramatic Interpretation.<\/p>\n
Two winners representing poetry and dramatic interpretation in the Chamorro language were also presented at Saturday\u2019s showcase. Hopwood\u2019s Chloe Salvosa and San Vicente Elementary School\u2019s Nina Vladsimo performed their categories, respectively.<\/p>\n
Western Pacific Regional NSDA board member Harold Easton said he is confident in this year\u2019s national team. \u201cI anticipate that they will do their usual best. They traditionally do quite well and I do not see any reason why they will not do the same for this year. This will be one of the best experiences in their life,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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