By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

STUDENTS from Calvary Christian Academy won this year’s local Mathcounts competition at the multi-purpose center in Susupe on Saturday.
The 13th annual contest drew the participation of 15 private and public schools from Saipan, Rota and Tinian.
Calvary Christian Academy students were named winners in the individual and team categories.
CCA’s Han Bert Jeong was first in the individual category. So Young Lim of Marianas Baptist Academy, placed second; Chan Woo Lee of Marianas Baptist Academy, third; Alisha Shrestha, Tinian Jr/Sr High, fourth; Harry Jun, Saipan International School; fifth; Ye Bin Park, Marianas Baptist Academy, sixth; Chan Young Kang, Calvary Christian Academy, seventh; Dong Hee Im, Marianas Baptist Academy, eighth; Terry Kiyoshi, Tinian Jr/Sr High, ninth; and Seong Hwang, Mount Carmel School, 10th.
The members of the winning team of Calvary Christian Academy are Han Bert Jeong, Chan Young Kang, Zelena Palijo and Han Byol Yu. Their coach is Vanessa Pritchard.
An MBA team placed second, Tinian Jr./Sr. High, third, while another team from MBA finished fourth.
Teachers and students had been preparing for the competition since fall.
Students competed individually and as members of teams in written and fast-paced oral matches.
Organizers of the contest said each school will now select eight students to advance to the commonwealth championship on March 17.
The top four students from the championship will head to the national championship in Texas.
The CNMI Mathcounts competition is administered by EFC Engineers & Architects. Sponsors this year include Chong’s Corp., DFS Saipan Inc., Joeten Charitable Foundation, PTI, Subway Investment Corp., Deloitte & Touche, Coca Cola Beverage Company, Microl Corp., National Office Supply and UMDA Inc.