Attao, Long, Litulumar top LDTF writing competition

On behalf of the Lady Diann Torres Foundation, first lady Diann Torres accepts a $1,000 donation from Bridge Capital vice president Vincent Bidez, chief operating officer Tucker Baldwin, and business development manager Joe Guerrero, making their company an official partner sponsor of the 2nd Annual Language in Literacy Young Author’s Writing Competition.  Also in the photo are LDTF board of directors member Shirley Sablan and outreach chair Irene Torres. (Contributed Photo)

The Lady Diann Torres Foundation announced yesterday the winners of the 2nd Annual Language in Literacy Young Author’s Writing Competition.

In the Chamorro grades 4-5 category, the first place prize went to Leilani Attao of Garapan Elementary School, with her work titled, Maolek Kontra Båba. The second place prize went to Geremy Santos of Tinian Elementary School, with Si Sirena.

In grades 6-8, the first place prize went to Cielo Long of Tinian Junior High School, with I Duendis. In second place is D’anahlei Rodriguez of Chacha Ocean View, with I dos Asagua yan I Asuli.

In the Carolinian category, the first place winner in grades 6-8 is Jude Litulumar of Chacha Ocean View, with The Origin of the Stick Dance. Second place went to Devin Kapileo of Chacha Ocean View, with Chief Aghurubw.

One the missions of LDTF is to promote and protect the language and culture of the indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian by giving the youth an opportunity to share stories and publish books written within the vernacular.

“I am extremely grateful to all young authors who participated in our second annual writing competition,” said first lady Diann Torres. “I am humbled by the support of parents, teachers and administrators of various participating schools. They have dedicated time and have worked hard to guide their children throughout their journey in this competition.”

Torres also thanked the judges for taking on the tough job of choosing the winners. The judges for the competition included Crispin Ogo, Claudia Larson, Juanita Nekaifes, John Tagabuel, and Erlinda Naputi.

The theme for the competition was “Myths and Legends.”

All submissions had to be written in either Chamorro or Carolinian by students in elementary grade levels 4 and 5, junior high school grades 6 through 8 and high school grades 9 through 12.

There was an increase in the number of submissions compared to the Foundation’s first competition.

Top finalists and winners will be assigned a professional illustrator to help illustrate their individual short stories and make ready for book publishing—all managed and paid for by the LDTF with the support of its sponsors.

Winning books will be edited and approved by the language commission before it is published.

LDTF has now opened the Language in Literacy program for an official sponsorship opportunity. There are two sponsor levels: $2,000 for main sponsor and $1,000 for partner sponsor.

For information about the Language in Literacy Young Author’s Writing Competition or to learn how to become an official sponsor of published books under this program, email ladydianntorres@gmail.com or call (670) 235-5383. (PR)