MBA student is Scripps Spelling Bee champion

Marianas Baptist Academy eighth grader Se Young Hwang won the 2009 Scripps Regional Spelling Bee in Guam and advanced to the national event in Washington, D.C. this May.

Hwang, who was expected to arrive on Saipan last night, won after correctly spelling the word “pneumonia.”

She is described by MBA principal Ramir H. Trinidad as a hard working student and a wide reader.

“We’re very proud of her!” he told Saipan Tribune yesterday, adding that as soon as she was declared champion the good news was relayed to him Saturday noon.

Hwang represented the MBA in the regional contest after she was adjudged as her school’s spelling bee winner last February.

Since then, Trinidad said, the student has been diligently preparing for the off-island competition.

Hwang is the second regional spelling champion from MBA after Brandon Fejeran a number of years back.

Saipan Tribune learned that teacher/coach Gloria Pangelinan and Hwang spent two hours a day to practice for the Guam competition.

The principal disclosed that this weekend’s visit to Guam was Hwang’s first off-island contest. She will mark another first when she travels to Washington, D.C. come May.

“We’re very excited for her because this was her first time in the Guam spelling competition and her first time to travel to the U.S.,” Trinidad said, adding that weeks prior to the student’s trip she asked him to process her papers for a foreign visa.

Trinidad believes that this indicates the student’s positive attitude.

Hwang, in the recently concluded state mathcounts, emerged as sixth best.

Besides being a consistent honor student, she is also active in the National Junior Forensic League and other school activities.

Trinidad is very grateful for the diligence shown by Hwang and her teachers and coaches.

Hwang finished 11 rounds of the grueling competition before she was crowned champion, succeeding Grace Christian Academy’s Angela Mamaril, who was eliminated in the competition.

Besides Hwang, five other CNMI students were adjudged top spellers this year after their inclusion to the Top 10 finalists.

They included second placer Kristine Leynes of Calvary Christian Academy, sixth placer Kyle Sandbergen of Tinian Junior/Senior High School, seventh best speller Ann Jeline Manabat of San Vicente Elementary, ninth placer Carla Llana of Grace Christian Academy in Rota, and 10th placer Jeffrey Centino of Dandan Elementary School.

Other students in the Top 10 were Amanda Dedicatoria of Luis P. Untalan Middle School, 3rd; Johnellyn Takisang of George B. Harris Elementary School in Palau, 4th; Derrin Pangelinan of As Tumbo Elementary School, 5th; Robert West of Guam Homeschool Association, 8th; and Kirstin Manlangit of F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School and Jovelle Ilog of Dominican Catholic School, tied for 10th.

Last year’s regional champion, Angela Mamaril of Grace Christian Academy, was knocked out of the national competition in an early round. The word “yeomanry” ended Mamaril’s first trip to the mainland.

Meanwhile, Dandan Elementary School principal Jonas Barcinas said the Public School System is very proud of the performances and achievements shown by its students in the regional contest.

Barcinas, along with other teacher/ coaches, attended the competition.