Crime Stoppers names winners of TV spot, poster making contests

The winners of the 2012 Crime Stoppers Create-A-Commercial and Create-A-Poster contests were awarded their prizes in a ceremony at the KSPN 2 studio at the Marianas Business Plaza in Susupe on Tuesday.

Team Northern Marianas Academy bagged the $500 grand prize for the 30-second TV commercial they created in line with the theme “Crimes Against Tourists” prevention, an idea of both Crime Stoppers and the Hotel Association of the NMI.

NMA bested 15 other entries from public and private high school students with an ad spot of a tourist couple who are robbed while at the Last Command Post in Marpi. A witness calls 911 and Crime Stoppers to report the crime.

Accepting the award were Harrison Smith, Evert Van Der Maas, and Josifynn “Peachy” Rasa. Other team members who were not present at the ceremony were Sung Hoon Ham, Ji Hyun Lee, Angel Iglecias, and Sunny Aldan.

Rasa described her first time to join the contest as a “great experience” and urged the public to call Crime Stoppers to report crimes that they witness.

“Our commercial informs the pubic to stop crimes against tourists, especially because we need more tourists here,” said Rasa.

Van Der Maas, for his part, said the commercial points out that those who want to remain anonymous when reporting a crime can call Crime Stoppers because they are guaranteed anonymity.

“I had fun doing the commercial. I enjoyed it a lot,” he added.

Team NMA’s entry will be submitted by August to the national level where entries from various Crime Stoppers units will be judged and awarded during the conference in Las Vegas in October.

Other Create-A-Commercial Contest winners were Team Marianas High School, which placed second and won $300. They are composed of Salvi Villanueva, Joon Lee, Deveney Dela Cruz, and Genesis Mamaril. Third place went to Team Kagman High School, which won $100. Members were Mona Indalecio, Vanessa, Maria Angela, Nonglak Kapileo, Lou Shrine Guevarra, Danielle, Ella, and Eric Flores.

Meanwhile, the Create-A-Poster Contest was for middle school students who submitted entries for the two categories.

The hand-drawn category had a total of 314 entries from three middle schools. Winners were Janice Jung, 8th grader at Saipan International School, first place, $100; Lizelle Lim, 8th grader at Hopwood Jr. High School, second place, $50; Angie Kim, 6th grader at SIS, third place, $25; and Patrick Augustine, 8th grader at HJHS, honorable mention.

For the computer-generated category, there were 26 entries from Hopwood Jr. High School. Winners were Raegine Camacho, first place, $100; Therese Tenorio, second place, $50; and Joyce Alfonso, third place, $25.

Camacho gave credit to her graphic arts teacher, Eric Palacios, who helped her come up with the winning design. “I’m really happy to have won this,” she said.

Both contests focused on the hotline and website information and the promise of anonymity for callers of Crime Stoppers, a local non-profit organization led by volunteer citizens against crime.

Board chair Sean E. Frink said this year’s turnout was the “best ever” owing to the number, variety, and quality of entries they received.

“The kids really went all out this year. I think a large part of that had to do with the theme,” Frink told Saipan Tribune. “It’s our intent to emphasize the need for the community’s involvement and for people to stand up and speak out against crimes, especially against tourists. We’re here to support the criminal justice system.”