SCS student to compete in National Junior Forensic League Competition

Posted on May 21 2014

This summer while other students may be attending camp or visiting relatives on vacation, Esther Park, a sixth-grader at Saipan Community School, will be rehearsing to compete at the National Junior Forensic League National Competition in Overland Park, Kansas, as part of the CNMI National Team.

From left, Saipan Community School students Kate Ishida, 6th grade; Isaac Jang, 8th grade; and Esther Park, 7th grade. (Contributed Photo)

7Park, who is a member of Saipan Community School’s NJFL team of 15 students, recently competed in the regional competition for the opportunity to represent the CNMI.

Eleven other SCS students qualified to compete in the regionals where a hundred-plus middle school students participated. In addition to Park, four other students advanced to the final and semifinal rounds in their events. Rachel Kim achieved top 10 honors in Duo Interpretation and Prose. Sarah Kim also competed in the top 10 for Duo Interpretation with Kim. Isaac Jang climbed to the top 5, winning third place in Storytelling while Kate Ishida rose to the top 5 in two events, placing fifth in Dramatic Interpretation and fourth in Humorous Interpretation. Encouraged by the results of this year’s competition, the SCS Forensics Team welcomes the challenges to best the competition next season.

The National Junior Forensic League is a prestigious middle school speech and debate society that hosts local meets throughout the school year. The NJFL “work to spark transformation in the lives of students, to help them become effective communicators, critical thinkers, and engaged, ethical members of our democratic society.”

The June 17-20, 2014, competition will include the following debate topics:

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Resolved: The United States ought to prioritize the pursuit of national security objectives above the digital privacy of its citizens.

Policy Debate

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its economic engagement toward Cuba, Mexico or Venezuela.

Public Forum Debate

Resolved: NATO should strengthen its relationship with Ukraine in order to deter further Russian aggression.

Extemporaneous Speaking

• R1: Politics in the United States • R2: China, Japan, and the Koreas • R3: Healthcare in the United States • Quarters: Russia and Eastern Europe • Semis: Business and Industry in the United States • Finals: International Relations

Impromptu Prompt Types

• R1: Proverbs from Across the World • R2: Special Occasions and Holidays • R3: Foods • Quarters: “What I would do if I could…” • Semis: Virtues of Leadership • Finals: Female Role Models of the 20th and 21st Centuries

Storytelling Theme

Thriller and Mystery

Established in 1976, Saipan Community School is the oldest Christian school on Saipan. For more information, call SCS at 234-6687 and visit their website, www.saipancommunityschool.com. (SCS)

Jun Dayao Dayao

This post is published under the Contributing Author. He/she does not normally work for Saipan Tribune but contributes for a specific topic or series.

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