[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 137 (Friday, August 17, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS NATIONAL SPEECH AND DEBATE 
                            ASSOCIATION TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                  HON. GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN

                    of the northern mariana islands

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 17, 2018

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the 28 young men and 
women from the Northern Mariana Islands who competed laudably at this 
year's National Speech and Debate Association National Tournament in 
Fort Lauderdale, Florida in June. Members of the Marianas team in both 
the junior and senior divisions performed excellently, some even 
placing in the top 10 in the country.
  The Junior Team earned handsomely with Elaine Fernandez of Francisco 
Sablan Middle School and Jonathan Wolf of Dandan Middle School both 
making it to the finals and placing number five in the nation in their 
categories, Story Telling and Humorous Interpretation, respectively. 
Vladimir Palma of Hopwood Middle School placed in the semi-finals, 
finishing top eight in the nation.
  Placing in the quarter finals for the Junior Team were Jonathan and 
Lars Wolf, who finished top 24 in the nation, with Jonathan also 
placing top 24 in Poetry Reading. Vladimir Palma placed top 30 in the 
nation in Prose Reading.
  The rest of Junior Team members performed excellently and included 
Patreisha Concillado and Elaine Fernandez from Fransisco Sablan Middle 
School; Dane Hodges and Cevina Huang from Saipan International School; 
Juliet Innocencio, Oceana and Issa Teigita from Dandan Middle School; 
Vivien Liu and Edgardo Palma from Hopwood Middle School; Jill Mallari 
from Mount Carmel School and Christian Pamintuan from Green Meadow 
School.
  On the Senior Team, Kate Ishida of Marianas High School placed in the 
semi-finals, earning number 12 in the nation in Poetry Reading. She 
also placed in the quarter finals in Prose Reading, finishing in the 
top seven percent in the nation. Elizabeth Rose Jones of Kagman High 
School placed in the quarter finals and earned number 15 in the nation 
in Expository Speech.
  Senior Team members who placed highly include Shea Hartig of Saipan 
International School who places in the top 17 percent in the nation for 
Impromptu Speech and top 38% percent in Poetry Reading. Su Min (Melody) 
Woo of Grace Christian Academy finished in the top 36 percent for Prose 
Reading. Nina Validismo of Kagman High School, Jeremiah Fernandez of 
Saipan Southern High School and Elijah Joshua Pajarillaga from Grace 
Christian Academy all placed in the top 40% in the nation in their 
respective categories: Story Telling for the two former and Impromptu 
Speech for the later.
  The rest of the Senior Team members performed superbly and included 
Neamiah Fernandez from Saipan Southern High School; Jeff Melchor from 
Mount Carmel School; Esther Park, Kelvin Wolf, Joseph Zhang and Emma 
Timmons from Marianas High School; and Lanz Jabez Victoria from Grace 
Christian Academy.
  These young orators were able to compete at such a high level with 
the guidance of all their coaches. The Junior Team was coached by 
Criselda Aldan from Mount Carmel School, Cary Bertoncini from Saipan 
International School, Lorelisa Espiritu from Great Meadow School, Maria 
Mettao from Francisco Sablan Middle School, Victoria Nishida from 
Hopwood Middle School, and Kristine Wolf from Dandan Middle School. 
Junior team coordinator and CNMI Representative to NSDA was Harold 
Easton.
  The coaches for the Senior Team were Frank Borja from Saipan Southern 
High School, Grace Duran from Grace Christian Academy, Joy Jones from 
Kagman High School and Dencio Manglona from Marianas High School.
  In addition to their performances in competition, the team was also 
able meet fellow orators from the continental United States, at last 
connecting with a network of fellow students passionate about speech 
and debate. The team also made contact with colleges and universities 
that especially recruit speech and debate students. Overall, it was a 
thoroughly enriching experience.
  Please join me in congratulating the Marianas Team for their 
exceptional performances at the 2018 National Speech and Debate 
Association National Tournament.

                          ____________________