NJSDA, ITS names national teams to represent CNMI

The National Junior Speech and Debate Association, along with the International Thespian Society, recently held its regional competition and named the members of its national team that will represent the islands in the upcoming national contest this summer.

Members of the National Junior Speech and Debate Association team that will represent the CNMI at the national tilt this June pose for a photo with there speech coaches at Mount Carmel School during the award ceremony. 
(Thomas Manglona II)

For the NJSDA national team, Won Kwan Kim will represent the islands in the Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Kate Ishida will be competing in the original oratory category; Kristina Crisostomo will compete in dramatic interpretation; Kelvin Wolf will represent in the humorous interpretation category, and Hyunin “Harry” Noh will represent the islands in extemporaneous speaking.

Melody Woo will compete in the prose category at the nationals, with Esther Kim for poetry, Esther Park for story telling, Jeremiah Fernandez for impromptu speaking, and the tandem of Deirdre Mae Rosete and Myka Villegas for duo interpretation.

Crisostomo told Saipan Tribune that her mother, the late Joana Vitug, prepared all of her pieces and practiced tirelessly with her for the regionals.

“It feels great to win. I feel a great sense of accomplishment. Looking back at all the nights my mommy and I spent rehearsing and how frustrating it was, now I’m proud of myself and appreciate all of my mommy’s hard work for me,” she added. “All of this is for her.”

Eighth grade student Kelvin Wolf said he feels “anxious but extremely excited” about going to nationals for the third time in a row.”

“I joined NJSDA and I could not have done it without my parents at my side. Even my siblings contributed a lot for me to make it this far,” he said. “This is yet another opportunity for me to see how far my hard work and strong determination can take me at the national event in Texas.”

The regional speech and debate competition also hosted categories in the Chamorro and Carolinian languages. Vince Phillip Salvador won first place for his performance in Chamorro dramatic interpretation, Issa Salazar topped the Chamorro category of humorous interpretation, John Isaac A. San Nicolas won first in Chamorro prose, and Victoria Dela Cruz garnered the top spot in Chamorro poetry. 

Bina Mary Reyes placed first in both of her categories, Carolinian dramatic interpretation and poetry. 

The junior speech and debate national team is fondly referred to as “Team Coconuts.”

Over 50 students qualified to compete in the regional competition, with a little over 100 students competing regularly at the monthly competition meets.

According to CNMI Speech and Debate Association board chair Harold Easton, the team will be scheduling weekly practices throughout the month in preparation for the championships in Dallas, Texas, this June. 

International Thespian Society laureates 
Middle school and high school students also recently spent the weekend competing for spots on the national team for the International Thespian Society competition.

For the Junior Thespian Society, Kelvin Wolf won first under the monologue category, Erica Tubera will represent the islands in solo musical theatre, and Deirdre Rosete and Myka Villegas will compete in duet acting.

For the Senior Thespian Society, students will be competing in a number of national independent events, junior college auditions, and senior scholarships.

Kagman High School’s Elizabeth Jones and Marianas High School’s Lee Ann Jastillano will be representing the islands with their monologue performances. Emily Jones and Roland Balajadia will compete in the color musical theatre. 

In the group musical theatre category, MHS Rhythm N’ Harmony members Annabel Manzo, Riczi Cano, Jameson Lee, and Neil Fama will be traveling to the states along with MHS Fortissimo members Jayrald Mercene, and Yuuki Nishida. 

MHS’ Angelica Meteo and Gunn Woo Shim topped the costume design category. Angela Cruz, Beltron Muna, and Kiana Atalig will be competing in the national film category. 

The ITS team will be traveling to Lincoln, Nebraska, this summer for the national competition to be held at the University of Nebraska. 

”We have a great team. Everyone did well and was fantastic,” Easton told Saipan Tribune. “We will now be working very closely with the coaches to make sure everyone is a hundred percent prepared. I think they will do a really, really good job. I see no problem there at all.” 

The National Speech and Debate Association regional competition for high school students is expected to take place next week.