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GCA student shares exciting experience at NJSDA
Grace Christian Academy’s November winners at the National Speech & Debate Association competition pose for a souvenir photo inside the Rev. Raymond S. Kinsella Library at the school’s Navy Hill school campus on Saipan. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Beatrice Ryza Fabre, a sixth-grader at Grace Christian Academy, was “very excited” to join the National Junior Speech & Debate Association competition for the first time.
“I felt nervous but, more than that, I felt happy because my parents were there for me,” she said. “With the help of our coach, Ms. Grace, I was able to have the confidence to win. And…we did it!”
The NJSDA speech competition was for students in 6th-8th grades.
Fabre, who won first place in both Prose Reading and Poetry Reading, and one second place in Impromptu Speech, did well for a novice competitor. She was one of two novice competitors in the 6th-8th grade division. Luis Cataluna, also a 6th grader and neophyte in this competition, won two awards.
Fifteen GCA students in 6th-8th grade competed in the NJSDA, while five GCA students in 9th-12th grade competed in the National Speech & Debate Association for the monthly qualifying competitions in November. Most of the GCA competitors won in two or all events and most of them won at least one event that they joined in despite a lot of other activities in school.
Grace Christian Academy’s November winners at the National Junior Speech & Debate Association contest pose for a souvenir photo inside the Rev. Raymond S. Kinsella Library at the school’s Navy Hill school campus on Saipan. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
These competitions encourage public and private school students to participate in and become proficient in reading, public speaking, debate, and interpretations.
GCA family would like to thank especially the GCA competitors for doing the best they can in accomplishing their goals and to all the parents, volunteer judges, and coaches for their support and all the help they have given in these competitions.
NJSDA WINNERS
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Rafael Busby, 2nd Place
Impromptu Speech A
Beatrice Ryza Fabre, 2nd Place
Gabriel Angelo Retardo, 3rd Place
Impromptu Speech B
Andrew Jeren Nunez, 2nd Place
Juruel Neilan Magtalas, 3rd Place
Rafael Busby, 4th Place
Extemporaneous Speech
Juruel Neilan Magtalas, 5th Place
Declamation
Jennifer Woo, 1st Place
Prose Reading B
Luis Cataluna, 4th Place
Prose Reading C
Beatrice Ryza Fabre, 1st Place
Prose Reading Masters B
Eunice Nicole Pagaduan, 2nd Place
Prose Reading Masters C
Jennifer Woo, 1st Place
Poetry Reading A
Beatrice Ryza Fabre, 1st Place
Luis Cataluna, 4th Place
Poetry Reading Masters A
Kei Lizama, 3rd Place
Rafael Busby, 5th Place
Poetry Reading Masters B
Eunice Nicole Pagaduan, 1st Place
Poetry Reading Masters C
Jacqlene Troi Torres, 5th Place
NSDA WINNERS
Original Oratory A
Elijah Joshua Pajarillaga, 1st Place
International Extemporaneous Speech
Lanz Jabez Victoria, 1st Place
United States Extemporaneous Speech
James Alexander Keaton, 1st Place
Ao Feng Louis Zheng, 2nd Place
Impromptu Speech A
James Alexander Keaton, 2nd Place
Elijah Joshua Pajarillaga, 4th Place
Commentary
Lanz Jabez Victoria, 1st Place
James Alexander Keaton, 2nd Place
Elijah Joshua Pajarillaga, 3rd Place
Prose Reading Masters B
Na Lee Christy Lee, 2nd Place
Poetry Reading Masters A
Na Lee Christy Lee, 5th Place
NJSDA/NSDA coach/coordinator: Grace Duran
Competition registrar: Esther Domingo Manzano
Special coach for debate: Belle Busby
Judges/volunteer: Desolee Calayo, Arvin Dayao, Martin Pangilinan, Claude Aquino, Clarisse Dacumos
