Ermitanio is Scripps Regional Spelling Bee champion

  Marcy Ann Ermitanio, an eighth grader from Chacha Oceanview Junior High School, was hailed champion of the 40th Annual Scripps Regional Spelling Bee held at the Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort last Saturday.

The 13-year-old bested 73 other top spellers from both public and private schools in Guam, the CNMI, Palau, and Pohnpei during the tense rounds in last Saturday’s competition.

The Saipan student bagged $750 cash prize and a trip to Washington, D.C. to represent the region in the national spelling competition on May 30.

Ermitanio battled Hopwood Junior High School’s Masrur Alam in the final round and her victory was sealed when she correctly spelled “Ichabod” with confidence before hundreds of spectators in the crowd.

Her teacher-coach Gina Montelione told Saipan Tribune Saturday that Ermitanio appeared cool, under pressure, and very relaxed on stage throughout the competition.

She said the CNMI student spelled 16 words correctly in the contest, earning the slot to the national event this year as representative of the Pacific region.

Because of the dedication and commitment showed by her student prior to the competition, the coach said she’s not surprised when Ermitanio bagged the championship.

“Her performance was truly inspiring and awesome. She is an amazing student who appeared very relaxed on stage, cool, under pressure. Marcy Ann is a bright and intelligent girl and I have seen her dedication. I am very proud of her,” the coach told Saipan Tribune Saturday.

Besides practicing with her coach, it was learned that Ermitanio did a lot of self-study-searching through the Internet, studying vocabulary lessons, and proper pronunciations among others. The coach said the eighth grader has been preparing for the Guam competition since November.

In an interview with Ermitanio yesterday, she told Saipan Tribune that this year was her second time to participate in the Guam competition.

She admitted that although she was excited with the event, she confirmed that she wasn’t feeling nervous at all.

According to Chacha Oceanview Jr. High School principal Vince Dela Cruz, Ermitanio is the first student from the school to bag the regional award and participate in the national spelling competition. The principal described Ermitanio’s victory as one of the best news he received and was proud of her and her coach’s achievement for the school and the entire CNMI Public School System.

“This is an awesome achievement for Chacha and PSS and this is evidence that lots of good thing are happening in the CNMI schools. I am confident that she will do her best to represent the CNMI in the national level,” Dela Cruz told Saipan Tribune Saturday, affirming the school’s support to the student.

Ermitanio is the fifth winner from Saipan since 2006. In 2010, William S. Reyes Elementary School’s Mikhail Alcantara bagged the title in the same competition.

Top 10 Spellers

Based on the competition result, six CNMI students made it to the Top 10 Spellers during Saturday’s competition.

Led by Ermitanio, also on the list were Masrur Alam of Hopwood Junior High School (second place); Mary Grace Tiglao of Saipan Community School (4th placer); Albert Kenross Jacinto from Calvary Christian Academy (7th placer); Michelle Bermudes of William S. Reyes Elementary (8th placer); and Putra Sani of Oleai Elementary (9th placer).

Other winners in the Top 10 list are Lorenzo Jorolan of Adacao Academy (3rd placer); Nirupa Gadi of Harvest Christian Academy (5th placer); Kristian Cercado of F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School (6th placer); and Alyssa Evette D. Sumbo of Oceanview Middle School (10th placer).