English is not her first language, but Hwang will now represent the region’s American islands in the national competition in Washington, D.C. on May 24 to 30.
Hwang, 13, returned to Saipan with her coach Gloria Pangilinan and other CNMI students on Sunday night.
Aside from the round-trip ticket to the nation’s capital and hotel accommodations, Hwang also brought home $500 cash, Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged, a one-year subscription of the online Encyclopedia Britannica, and a $100 U.S. saving bond.
“I haven’t started preparing for the (national competition) yet but I hope I will make it in the first round where I expect to compete with about 60 other students,” Hwang said in an interview yesterday.
To win, she said needs more prayers — and more time to study her thick dictionary.
Pangilinan said Hwang won the regional contest because of prayers.
“God is blessing MBA with victories in competitions because we believe we put God first,” Pangilinan said adding that they also have a principal who is godly, humble and prayerful.
Forty-six students from Saipan, Tinian, Rota, Guam and Palau competed at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa.
The final two contestants were Hwang and Calvary Christian Academy’s Christine Leynes, also of Saipan.
To win first prize, the finalists have to correctly spell two words in a row.
Leynes got the first one but missed the next — “eviscerate.”
Hwang was then, asked to spell the winning word, “pneumonia.”
MBA principal Ramiro Trinidad, in a separate interview, said it will be the second time that they are sending a contestant to the national competition.
MBA’s first national contestant was Brandon Fejeran.
Last year’s regional champion, Angela Mamaril, was also from Saipan — a student of Grace Christian Academy.
