For the first time in the 22 years of the Samoa News Territorial Spelling Bee, a student has won two years in a row. Debrina Alaia Su’a an eight grader at Manulele Tausala Elementary School, spelled the winning word “validity” correctly in the 25th round and was again named the Samoa News Territorial Spelling Bee Champion who will compete at the National Spelling Bee in Washington DC. in May. In second place is Avril Regis a seventh grader from St. Theresa Elementary School and the third place slot was won by Siofu Anesi Poloa of Pava’ia’i Elementary School.
A note of interest, there has been another two-time winner, just not in consecutive years. Lawrence Fernandez of Manumalo won in 1997 when in the 5th grade and then again in 2000 when he was in the 8th grade.
McDonald’s American Samoa stepped up for the second year as the major corporate sponsor for Bee competition, and local franchise president and CEO Tautolo Charlie Tautolo told Samoa News earlier that this sponsorship is in line with McDonald’s American Samoa’s commitment to youth and education and a fitting adjunct to the company’s annual scholarship program for students heading to college.
The competition, which continues to be held inside the KVZK TV studios kicked off with 29 students minus Maryanne Va’atasili from Olosega Elementary School who was unable to attend. The school’s principal cites transportation problems as the reason the student was unable to participate.
After the Bee, two-time consecutive winner told Samoa News that her experience from last year’s Scripp’s National Spelling Bee will pave the way for her in this year’s competition. “All the kids at the Bee are pros and I have learned so much from last year’s trip and I’m looking forward to try again this year.”
She said that winning the Territorial Spelling Bee has been her goal but winning it twice in a row is what she did not anticipated. This was her third time competing, two years ago, Debrina bowed out in the top 20 but she did not give up, and with the help of her teacher, long time educator Liutautai Leupolu, who is her coach and the chair for the English Department at Manulele Tausala, she came in first place in two consecutive years.
She told Samoa News on Wednesday that its difficult competing at the Territorial level but much more complex at the National level. She thanked her parents and especially her mother for always making sure that she studies and being a teenager, she misses hanging out with her friends and playing after school as her mother is always keen on making sure she studies her words. Debrina said she studies the entire dictionary and that will be a huge help at the National Spelling Bee.
The eighth grader is excited that she’ll be heading to Washington DC again and hopes that she will make American Samoa proud. She is the daughter of Akenese and Nu’uese Su’a.
The Territorial Bee is the final contest for the winners from every eligible school and only students from third to eighth grade are allowed to participate, according to Scripp's National Spelling Bee rules. Samoa News congratulates all the contestants, their coaches and parents and is very proud to honor all the winners, who have worked hard to participate in the Territorial Bee.
Debrina will travel with her coach to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, to be held this year May 22-28, in Washington D.C. with their trip and accommodations underwritten by McDonald’s American Samoa.
At the start of the competition that lasted over 6 hours, Samoa News Managing Director Robin Annesley Dalton welcomed all on behalf of the newspaper and the Bee’s major sponsor, McDonald's American Samoa, while rules were explained by Evelyn Lili’o-Satele, who coordinates the students for the yearly event, and puts them at ease with practice sessions and study tips.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS — FA’AFETAI TELE LAVA MO LE FESOSOANI
Samoa News, as the host and sponsor of the Territorial Bee would like to acknowledge the following generous community donors who have helped make this Bee the tremendous success that it is:
The Major Sponsor, McDonald’s American Samoa joined us for its second year in what we hope will continue to be a long and productive partnership. Genevieve Solia representing the company (this was her second time too) during the prize presentation to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd winners — tendered congratulations to these fantastic competitors and offered them a smiling thank you!
Other sponsors are Bluesky Communications, SSAB- Pago, Webster’s International Dictionary, GHC Reid, Co. Ltd., Paradise Pizza, Vai’s Flowers & Gifts, Skyview Rentals, and KVZK-TV.
Of course, the Bee wouldn’t be the success it is each year without the participation of elementary students, teachers and spelling coaches of the ASDOE public schools as well as the private schools of the territory.
Of note, Samoa News has always made sure that Manu’a Elementary School participants and their chaperones are able to make it to Tutuila for the Territorial Bee each year, by paying for transportation. This year unfortunately Olosega Elementary was not able to make it due to transportation problems — we hope they will be able to join us next year.
Samoa News is also grateful to Bee pronouncers, newcomers from ASCC Melelina Fiaui and Dr. Micah Van der Ryn for their contributions, as well as judges Congresswoman Aumua Amata and Rosita Esene Sola, 2015 Territorial Teacher of the Year.
Of course the Bee itself could not be possible without Bee student coordinator Evelyn Lili’o-Satele – American Samoa Dept. of Education, who has been with the event for 22 years. Thank you!
And this year, we were also joined by the Pacific Youth and Community Development representative Salima Eucharist Reupena, who coordinated the event at the KVZKTV studio. Thanks Lisi!
Again — we congratulate all participants — and look forward to next year’s Territorial Bee 2017, with the Top Three having the opportunity, after winning their school Bees, to once again be in the limelight.
