NSDA hosts successful showcase before nat’l trip 

Sixteen high school speech and debate champions will be traveling to Dallas, Texas, this week to represent the islands in various speech categories at the weeklong National Speech and Debate Association tournament.

Parents, family, and friends kept quiet while students took to the stage at Church 360 to perform their pieces in their respective categories during the team’s Tuesday night showcase.

“I thought the students did an excellent job,” said speech coach Joylynn Jones. “They spent many hours preparing for their events and their hard work really paid off. I am looking forward to a great trip!”

High school student members of the CNMI National Speech and Debate Association pose for a photo after their showcase on Tuesday evening at Church 360. (Contributed Photo)

The students will be traveling to the U.S. mainland after garnering enough points to qualify for the regional speech tilt and winning first in their category among dozens of other public and private school students. The speech categories range from poetry and prose to United States extemporaneous speaking and Lincoln-Douglas Debate.

Student orator Ariane Reyes, who will be representing the islands in poetry, told Saipan Tribune that she feels profoundly blessed and honored to be a part of a driven and determined team.

“My goal…is to be able to make the most out of it, since it’s my first time flying to the mainland, while having my eyes on the prize, which is to at least get to semifinals,” she said.

Veteran speech competitor Yujin Lee expressed similar sentiments.

“I am really grateful that I was once again given the opportunity to represent the CNMI in the national speech and debate competition this year. I hope that I can learn and improve throughout the process of competing in the national,” Lee said. “The national speech and debate association has been a significant part of my life, and I hope to do my best alongside our great team this year.

Kagman student Elizabeth Rose Jones said she too is looking forward to the national tilt as a freshman orator. “I am very honored to be on the CNMI team. My hope is that I can do my very best in Texas and learn a lot in the process! I’m very excited to have such a great opportunity,” she added.

School coaches as well as speech and debate board representative Mary Angela Wheat and Pacific-Island District chair Harold Easton were in attendance and addressed parents’ questions about the competition and trip.

The national speech competition is considered the largest speech and debate tournament in the nation. Thousands of high school students from around the globe take part in its diverse speech categories every year.

Fourteen students from the National Junior Speech and Debate Association on island will also be in Texas for the competition.