14 students strike gold in regional NFL

Fourteen students will represent the CNMI in the National Forensic League competition after bagging gold medals in the regional contest last Saturday at the Marianas High School.

The CNMI team, comprised of students from public and private high schools, will vie for national titles against students from 53 other U.S. states territories and the event set for June 9 in Indiana.

Winners of the gold medals in the rigorous and tensed competition are Marianas Baptist Academy’s Se Young Hwang for foreign extemporaneous; MBA’s Eunice Park for U.S. extemporaneous; MBA’s Dong Hee Im for Lincoln Douglas Debate; Mount Carmel School’s Anastasia Schweiger for oratorical; Saipan International School’s Abel Pellegrino for humorous interpretation; MCS’ Janela Rivilla for dramatic interpretation; and the tandem of Marianas High School’s Matthew Lopez and Ageline Sahagun for duo interpretation.

Gold medal awards were also conferred to Calvary Christian Academy’s Midori Nishida for expository; Grace Christian Academy’s Angela Mamaril for commentary; MBA’s Almond Legaspi for prose; MHS’ Francis Fidelinao for poetry; GCA’s Terence Ho for impromptu; and MCS’ Anne Gelika Elenzano for storytelling.

Every year, the CNMI sends delegates to various NFL events and has been consistent in getting good results, returning with numerous awards and recognitions.

CNMI NFL board chair Harold Easton told Saipan Tribune that for many years of competing in the national NFL level, local students successfully ranked in the nation’s top lists and even the Top 10 which is an amazing testament to the success of the program in the Commonwealth.

“We expect our students to do their absolute best to represent the CNMI very well and as long as they do that, we’re happy,” Easton said after the awarding rites Saturday night at the Dolphin Theater. It was revealed that this year, over 100 high school contenders joined the NFL competition on island. He is looking forward to another fun and exciting moments for the CNMI Team in the national events.

MBA’s Dong Hee Im told Saipan Tribune that she was surprised of the recognition. The student has been in the NFL and NJFL competitions since her seventh grade and this year marked her sixth time—her last—for the competition.

“I’m not really expecting to win this time and I was surprised. I am happy and proud that even in my last year, I will be joining the national team for the CNMI. I am grateful to my coaches and my school for their full support all throughout these years,” she told Saipan Tribune. Im competed in three categories and emerged first place winners in two categories while second place for the other one.

MCS’ Anastasia Schweiger also voted to do her best in the national event. This year marked her fifth time in the NFL and the third time to be in the national team. In 2009, she brought honor to the CNMI after she was named in the nation’s Top 5 in impromptu speaking. Last Saturday, Schweiger competed in two categories where she both bagged first place awards for her self-composed speeches.

Schweiger said it is her goal to finish among the nation’s Top 100 before she graduate from high school. The students look forward for another fun and learning experience in their upcoming trip.

GCA’s Angela Mamaril, who has been in the national competition once, vowed to give her best again. Saying her latest win was unexpected, she credited her coaches and her school for their hard work and support. Mamaril competed in four categories of the competition and bagged the gold medal award for commentary.