On October 19, 2017, First Lady Diann Torres is pictured at the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library with book donations from the First Lady Diann Torres Foundation. Two books recently published by the Foundation include: Adora San Nicholas’s newly published Chamorro book entitled Hafa Sinentete-Mu? and Coloma Castro’s book entitled I Lina’la’ Hu.
First lady Diann Torres through the Lady Diann Torres Foundation launched the Language in Literacy Young Author’s Program and Young Author’s Competition earlier this year in an effort to jump start the language and literacy portion and mission of her foundation.
The Young Author’s Program was designed to promote the learning and use of the indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian languages.
The First Annual Language in Literacy Young Author’s Competition was successful in gathering a combined 32 entries from authors residing on Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
The final winning authors and awardees:
- Coloma Castro, 8th grade, Hopwood Middle School with book entitled “I Lina’la’ Hu” which means “My Life” in English
- Adora Jay San Nicolas, 5th grade, Sinapalo Elementary School with book entitled “Hafa Sinintete-mu?” which means “How are you feeling?”
- Katrina Gaag, 7th grade, Chacha Oceanview Middle School with book entitled “Kkol Refaluwasch Me Rei.” Gaag’s story was the only Carolinian entry.
Honorary awardees:
- Yonnie Babauta, 6th grade, Chacha Oceanview Middle School with book entitled “I Batchit Lina’la-hu Ni Chamorro.” This entry was the only braille entry designed specifically for readers who are visually impaired or blind.
- Geremy Santos, 3rd grade, Tinian Elementary School with book entitled “I Finenina Na Kinine’hu Guihan” which means “The first fish I have ever caught.”
There were three categories for the competition: 1: grades 4-5, 2: grades 6-8 and 3: grades 9-12.
Entries were not to exceed 250 words for grades 4-8 and 500 for grades 9-12. They had to be submitted in Microsoft Word format or Google Docs with a 12 points Times New Roman font and single spaced between lines.
Winning story entries were granted an exclusive partnership with a professional illustrator and full publishing opportunity.
“I was extremely happy to see our young authors take part in this competition. For a long time, I have had this dream of developing a program that will bring excitement to storytelling and short story writing, specifically for children, using the indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian languages,” First lady Diann Torres said.
For information about the Lady Diann Torres Foundation Language in Literacy Young Author’s Program, you may email ladydianntorres@gmail.com or call 235-2383 (LDTF).
