By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

FIVE students from San Antonio Elementary School will be on Guam next week for a two-day forensic competition.
They will be accompanied by their teacher and coach, Leora Ngirablosch. The five participants are all third graders who recently won in the regional forensic contest for choral speaking — Rona Rojas, Raynalyn Alarca, Maria Christine Castro, Rhea Banados and Christine Aninzo.
“They will compete as a group in the first ever Marianas Academic Invitation to be held at the Aqueda Johnson school on Guam,” Ngirablosch told Variety, adding that her students will join other students from various schools in the CNMI.
All gold medalists in the local forensic contests will join the competition on Guam.
The two-day competition slated for May 25-27 will see the participation of 61 schools of which 14 are in the CNMI.
The CNMI students’ trip to Guam will be paid for with federal funds received by the Public School System.
“We’re very happy for our students. This travel will be for their first off-island competition,” Ngirablosch said.
She said the students have been practicing diligently.
“After a year of hard work, these third graders will proudly announce their accomplishments to the world. Their message: never give up and don’t be afraid to try something new and scary,” Ngirablosch said.
She added, “This competition is an opportunity to practice their learning, make new friends, and shine among their peers.”
The most valuable reward for students, she said, is the self-confidence they will gain.
Other third graders who were successful in the recently held chapter and regional forensic leagues and math courts include Christine de Guzman, Tricia Ingram, McGwire Atalig, Jasmine Basto and Russ Kristian Dequito.