2-time winner Mersai leads CGC contest winners

Community Guidance Center director Nadine Sablan, right, joins her staff and the four students that won in their National Prevention Week art contest in Thursday’s ceremony at their new office at the second floor of the TSL Plaza in Garapan. (Jon Perez)

William S. Reyes Elementary School student Narhya Mersai has enjoyed drawing since she learned how to pick up crayons. The doors and walls of their house were Mersai’s first canvas, according to her mom Katherine, a second-grade teacher at WSR.

“She loves to draw. …You can see scribbles and drawings in our home. On the walls and doors. She also creates cards that she gives to us whenever there are special events,” said the elder Mersai with a laugh.

Mersai, now a fifth grader, has parlayed that talent to good use after becoming a back-to-back winner in the Community Guidance Center National Prevention Week art contest. She led three other winners for Saipan, with Rota and Tinian having their own set.

“Someday I would like to be an artist, but I also have other things in mind,” said Mersai.

Eunice Nicole Pagaduan, one of three Grace Christian Academy students in the Top 4, also joined last year but wasn’t lucky. Now, she’s pleased that her artwork was chosen among the winners.

“I’m not sure if I’m a good artist but I love to draw. I want to tell other kids like me that, instead of drinking alcohol, chewing tobacco, and using drugs, there are a lot of things that you can do to get better,” said Pagaduan, who is also a fifth grader.

“You don’ have to struggle and have something better to do. There are more things that you could learn to be better,” added the daughter of Nelson and Eucele of Navy Hill.

Eighth grader Tommy Aldan and third grader Maria Gomez, who are also both from GCA, were the other winners from Saipan.

Rota and Tinian will be having their own Top 4 winners, which CGC staff will also be awarding.

A total of 37 entries from public and private school students, from Kindergarten to eighth grade, joined the contest where high school students served as judges.

The Top 4 received arts supplies, a Bluetooth speaker, a power bank, a portable bag, and a flash drive aside from certificates.

CGC prevention specialist Charnessa Lizama said the ultimate prize is having the artwork included in a daily planner. “CGC will be having a student planner for next year where all of the artworks will be included.”

“All 12 artworks, also from Rota and Tinian, will be in the planner that will have substance abuse prevention tips,” she added.

CGC director Nadine Sablan, clinical services officer Dr. Glenda George, prevention services manager Jeffrey Tomokane, project coordinator Kimberly Tudela, social marketing assistant Joe Ada, and 2018 Miss Marianas Celine Cabrera joined Lizama in giving out the prizes to the winners.