Junior orators prepare for national speech tilt

Fourteen National Junior Speech and Debate champions from nine different schools performed in front of a standing-room-only audience at the American Memorial Park auditorium last Saturday, showcasing their talents in their respective categories before traveling to Dallas, Texas, this week to represent the islands at the national level. 

Fourteen National Junior Speech and Debate competitors pose for a photo with their coaches, board member Angela Wheat, and president and chairman Harold Easton. (Thomas Manglona II)

“It is proven that students who participate in public speaking, music, and in drama are more likely to succeed in higher education and beyond,” said Hopwood Junior High School coach Victoria Nishida in her opening remarks. “These students are the best of the best.”

Nishida noted that this year’s team includes a record-breaking number of four sixth-grade students.

The 14 student orators are among more than 70 students from 13 different schools that competed at the recent regional competition in categories ranging from debate to poetry interpretation. 

One of the youngest competitors, sixth-grade student Issa Salazar, told Saipan Tribune that she is “very excited” for the trip. “I will be doing this competition on and on as the years go by and apply for college in the end.”

Fellow orator and declamation representative Melody Woo expressed similar sentiments. 

“I am nervous because I know what to expect. At the same time, I feel more confident because I know what to expect,” she said. “The coaches prepared me well for this.”

Three-time national speech and debate competitor Kelvin Wolf will be representing the islands in the duo category with his partner Jeremiah Fernandez. 

“I will go at it harder this year. I will definitely focus a lot more. I am hoping to make it to the final round,” Wolf said. “I decided to join this because I think paving the path for the future is a lot better than sitting and doing nothing.”

Each of the 14 students has one main category to compete in, along with two to three other supplemental and consolation categories.

Parent and coach Kristine Wolf said each student has shown boundless promise to perform well at the national level. “Speech and debate is important because it gives students brighter knowledge about public speaking as well as self-confidence,” she added.

At the end of the two-hour showcase, speech and debate board representative and coordinator Mary Angela Wheat expressed her gratitude to the orators’ parents for their support. 

President and Pacific Island District chair Harold Easton assured parents that the student competitors would be in the good hands of the school coaches during the trip.

“These young people will represent the island very, very well and represent their schools very, very well,” he added. 

The national competition is considered the biggest speech and debate contest in America. Thousand of students from around the globe take part in its various speech and debate categories every year.

The showcase for high school competitors of the National Speech and Debate Association will be held tomorrow at 6pm at Church 360 at the Marianas Business Plaza.