GCA’s PGFC competitors bag 8 first-place finishes

Grace Christian Academy students that participated in the qualifying competition of Primary Grades Forensic Conference for Kindergarten to 5th grade have their picture taken. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Grace Christian Academy students won top awards at the 3rd virtual monthly qualifying competition of Primary Grades Forensic Conference for Kindergarten to 5th grade. They bagged eight first place awards in different events for the two divisions.

In K-2 division, Kindergarten 5 student Jacqueline Iris Quitugua won first place in Declamation. A first-time competitor, Quitugua said, “I like being on camera reciting my piece. I like competing with other kids.”

First grader Fiona Yu was so happy when she won first place in her two events: Dramatic Interpretation and Readers Forum. She said, “PGFC is lots of fun and I will keep trying to become more confident. Thanks to Ms. Esther for helping me memorize my piece and read very well.”

In the 3-5 division, four third-graders won first place in one of their events. En Mei Huang won first place in Impromptu speaking. “It was unexpected because the topic was hard for me in the beginning, but later it became easier, with more practice in school and at home,” she said.

Anne Gabriel Arriola, who has been competing since she was in Kindergarten, won first place in Readers Forum. She said, “I like joining this competition because it helps me to improve my speaking and reading skills.”

Catalina Frink, another third-grader who just started to join the competition last year, won first place in Declamation. She said, “Joining PGFC is very fun! I like to do it, especially practicing with my mom!” Her mother said she learned to pronounce more words correctly by performing her competition pieces.

Another third-grader, Chloe Hayul Shin, is really shining this year and winning more awards. When she won first place in Humorous Interpretation, she said, “I was nervous, but I was also happy and excited. I felt like I was going to a very big contest.”

Fifth grader Llyana Jairah Libut, who won first place in Readers Forum, said, “I like PGFC because it helps me improve my speaking skills. It makes me push myself harder. I would like to thank my family for helping me.”

Due to the COVID-19 situation, almost all of the events were prerecorded video entries. The only live event for PGFC is Impromptu Speaking via Zoom, in which only the competitors and judges can enter the live meeting.

PGFC competition encourages public and private school students from kindergarten 5 to fifth grade to participate in and become proficient in the performing arts: reading, public speaking, and interpretation.

LIST OF ALL WINNERS

K-2 DIVISION
Declamation
Jacqueline Iris Quitugua, 1st Place

Dramatic Interpretation B
Fiona Yu, 1st Place

Reader’s Forum Masters A
Fiona Yu, 1st Place

3-5 DIVISION
Declamation
Catalina Marie Frink, 1st Place

Dramatic Interpretation
En Mei Huang, 2nd Place
Nerissa Corinne Xiao Liu, 5th Place

Humorous Interpretation
Chloe Hayul Shin, 1st Place

Impromptu Speaking A
En Mei Huang, 1st Place

Reader’s Forum A
Nerissa Corinne Xiao Liu, 2nd Place

Reader’s Forum B
Anne Gabriel Arriola, 1st Place

Reader’s Forum C
Llyanna Jairah Libut, 1st Place

Reader’s Forum D
Akira Ito, 3rd Place

Chamorro Reading
Remelene Geoliz Falig, 3rd Place

PGFC coach/coordinator: Esther Manzano. (PR)