Lochabay, Tessen are Covenant debate champs

Caroline Lochabay and Alice Tessen, both students of the Saipan International School, emerged as champions in the 4th Annual Covenant Debate held yesterday at the Judicial Complex in Susupe.

Lochabay won over Se Rhee Kim, also of Saipan International School, in the National Forensic League (9-12 graders).

Tessen, on the other hand, defeated Joan Lee, of the Marianas Baptist Academy, in the Middle School Forensic League (6-8 graders).

Henry Chan, another student of Saipan International School, won over Kevin Sablan, of Mt. Carmel School, in their battle for third place in the NFL division.

Saipan International School was also awarded a perpetual trophy for ruling the competition.

Lochabay, in an interview with the Saipan Tribune, said she is very happy because they put a lot of work into the competition.

“We really worked hard. We are all happy with the result,” said Lochabay who also won last year’s competition.

Tessen said she feels really good with her win over Lee in the MFSL division.

“I’m surprised because Joan Lee had always beaten me before,” Tessen said.

Attorney Lillian A. Tenorio, one of the judges, said the debaters were “really good, polished, and very articulate.”

Two debaters—Patricia Sablan of Marianas Baptist Academy and Roland Arii of Hopwood Junior High School—failed to compete.

The eight were the finalists selected among 20 MFSL and NFL debaters during the Lincoln Douglas Debates held at San Antonio Elementary School on March 7, 2006.

In yesterday’s debate, the debaters argued the issue whether “CNMI control over its own immigration and minimum wage is justified and should be continued.”

Aside from Tenorio, the other judges were former lieutenant governor and associate justice Jesus C. Borja, former Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Alex Sablan, businesswoman Brenda Y. Tenorio, and lawyer and author Howard Willens.

Patricia L. Coleman of NMC served as the moderator.

The Covenant Day Debate is an annual event sponsored by the NMI Council for the Humanities in conjunction with the NFL and MSFL. The program’s goals are to increase awareness of the Covenant among junior high and high school students, to promote research and debating skills, and to encourage students to examine key Covenant-related issues that affect life in the Commonwealth.