MHS to represent the CNMI at Guam STEM fair

The Marianas High School team would be representing the CNMI and competing against Guam on who gets to represent the region at the 2019 Island Sustainability Conference.

This came about after the Public School System concluded its annual Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math fair over the weekend at the Chacha Oceanview Middle School.

MHS also bested Dr. Rita H. Inos High School on Rota in the Green Dream Competition.

The MHS team consists of team staple Ian Cataluna, John Oh, Katherin C. Illahi, Microl Chen, and Liu Gengyan. They bested RHI, the only other team in the competition, which consisted of Jeni Costales, Jennylyn Candia, Frederica Manglona, Roque Aldabe, and Angelo Lucero.

“We have been competing [in Guam] for the past three years and we are very excited to represent the CNMI [for a fourth time],” said MHS principal Cherlyn Cabrera.

This year’s challenge was to design a water catchment system, keeping in mind the scarcity of fresh water on islands.

From right, Saipan Southern High School teacher and team adviser Dora Miura poses with contestants Ruth Park and Iris Lee as they get their first place prize Saturday afternoon. (Erwin Encinares)

“Competitions like STEM really makes learning in the classroom more meaningful for [the students], so that’s why we highly encourage our students to join and encourage our teachers to advise. …They put a level of excellence in it that is necessary for competition and that brings out the best [in them],” Cabrera said.

SSHS bags first place in 9th to 12th grade bracket

Saipan Southern High School’s Iris Lee was awarded first place in the general sciences division, with her project relating to obesity ratings on Saipan as age increases.

“We wanted to raise awareness how bad obesity is on Saipan by research,” she said, adding that it was her first time to join the competition. She said she was astounded to win the competition with her teammates, Ruth Park and Pearl Choi.

“We entered this competition just for our participation in class and we didn’t expect to win the competition,” Park said. “Our goal was just to win either second or third, but we didn’t know we would actually win first place.”

SSHS adviser Dora Miura noted that this was the second time a student of hers joined the STEM Fair. Her students previously garnered second and third places.

“I am proud of them. I am always proud of them, even those who did not make it into the placing,” she said, adding that Lee’s project was done for her pre-calculus class.

Following Lee in the general sciences division was MHS’ Kate Ishida for second place while Jeffrey Seo, also from MHS, garnered third.

MHS’ Cataluna was awarded third place in the 9th to 12th grade research division while Mt. Carmel School’s Casey Pathil got second place and Agape Christian School’s Sho Yu Du won first place.

Hopwood Middle School’s Jae Yun Jung garnered first place for the 6th to 8th grade division while Lynzey Green, also from the same school, garnered second. Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja’s John Anthony Tobongbanua placed third in the division.

Brilliant Star Montessori’s Jennifer Hart garnered first place in the 3rd to 5th grade division while Oleai Elementary School’s Dwayne Tabhan placed second and Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja’s Keeff Matondo placed third.

Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja’s Princess Gin Mahusay garnered first place in the Kindergarten to 2nd grade division while Isla Montessori School’s Oliver Pauling garnered second and Garapan Elementary School’s Neil Cunanan placed third.