By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

SIXTEEN teams from private and public schools will participate in this year’s Build a Castle, Save a Reef competition slated for Saturday at the Hyatt Regency’s Beach Park.
This year’s theme is “From the Land to the Sea,” and the teams will be featuring two elements in their entries — land and sea.
Light in the Eve Foundation vice president Laila Y. Boyer said this year marks the fourth annual contest which aims to raise greater awareness about the need to protect coral reefs.
Light in the Eve, a nonprofit group, is teaming up with the Division of Environmental Quality which sees the event as great opportunity to prepare for next year’s celebration of the International Year of the Reef.
“We’re looking forward to this year as the jumpstart for coral reef protection and awareness,” said DEQ spokeswoman Reina Camacho. “Coral reefs are a resource not only for our tourists but also for residents to enjoy and protect on a daily basis…they are the pride of our islands,”
There will be three top winners in the junior and high school divisions.
A cash prize of $300 awaits the champion, while $200 and $100 will go to the runners-up in both divisions. A handcrafted turtle trophy will also be given to the winners.
The entries will be evaluated according to originality, creativity, imagination, consistency and degree of difficulty.
The panel of judges will include Perry Tenorio, the Marianas Visitors Authority’s managing director; Lynn Knight, of Tan Holdings; James Matsumoto of Wells Fargo; and Frank Castro of DEQ.
Saipan Southern High School will defend its high school division title against Calvary Christian Academy, Kagman High, Marianas High School, Northern Marianas Academy, Rota High School, Saipan International School, and Tinian High School.
In the junior division, defending champion Saipan Community School will compete against Chacha Oceanview Junior High, Hopwood Junior High, Rota Junior High, Saipan International School, and Whispering Palms.
Proceeds raised this year will go to the CNMI Reef Check Program which is designed to monitor the reef’s health and increase awareness of the need to preserve these resources.
“The Build a Castle, Save a Reef competition is the only one of its kind in Micronesia where school teams are encouraged to participate in building sand sculptures to help save our coral reefs,” Boyer said.
She said because the competition is slated to run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., they will provide play stations for children.
“It will be fun and exciting…so we’re inviting families and the whole community to come and see the contest,” she said, adding that Australia’s sand-sculpture master, Steve Machell, will present a demonstration piece for the public.
Machell has been here twice to participate in the event. He is scheduled to conduct a workshop today at the beach park.
Also present during yesterday’s press briefing were representatives of the event’s sponsors: Cecile Bamba-Suda, Mobil’s public and government affairs manager; Judy Torres, deputy managing director of the Marianas Visitors Authority; Mark Sablan, Wells Fargo manager; and Marites Cabaltica, the company’s service credit manager.
“MVA commends Light in the Eve for holding this activity,” MVA’s Torres said. “One of our attractions in the CNMI is our reef and in order to grow our tourism industry, it is important to protect our natural resources and by coming up with this activity, they become involved in promoting as well as protecting our environment.”
Other sponsors include the Hyatt Regency, Younis Arts Studio Inc., Budget Rent a Car, Aquarius Beach Towers, Tan Holdings, Island Apparel, the Office of the Governor, Coastal Resources Management and Power 99 FM.