Community and Cultural Administration Resident Director Lourdes Manglona said next year, they want students to compete in book writing.
This year celebration, students joined the essay writing contest whose theme was the importance of coconut tree and its by-products to Chamorro traditions.
Manglona said next year’s book writing contest will allow students to explore their talents in the literary art.
“We intend to discover young authors,” she said, adding that the students will write about their personal experiences in cultural preservation and development.
The entries will be written in Chamorro language, she added.
Julita Calvo, DCCA community development specialist, said the winners in next year’s contest will receive bigger prizes.
She is encouraging students to prepare now for the book-writing contest.
In this year’s essay contest, the first prize of $100 was won by Maisialyn Mesngon, 8th grader of Rota Junior High School; the $75 second prize went to Gavin Mendiola, 5th grader of Rota Sinapalo Elementary School; and the third prize of $50 went to Jimmy Atalig Jr., 3rd grader of Rota Sinapalo Elementary School.
The other seven participants received $20 each, Calvo said.
