Monrovia, Liberia – June 21, 2025
District 9 in Montserrado County came alive this week as students, educators, and community members gathered to celebrate the completion of the 2025 Academic Competition, a program that continues to grow in significance each year.
Organized by the Montserrado University Students Union (MONSU) District 9 Chapter, the initiative brought together young people from schools across the district to compete in spelling bee, debate, quizzing, football, kickball, basketball, singing, and the Miss Education District 9 pageant. But this was more than just a series of contests. It was a chance to showcase talent, build confidence, and nurture leadership in a generation that represents the district’s future.
District 9 Representative Frank Saah Foko, Jr., reflecting on the event’s success, credited the program’s origins to his late predecessor, Hon. Munah E. Pelham-Youngblood. “My late boss started this program to help students grow as scholars and leaders,” he said. “It’s been a privilege to carry that torch forward. Every year we’ve held this competition since I took office, and every year it keeps getting better.”
Representative Foko shared his commitment to continuing the sponsorship of meaningful youth events across the district. He emphasized that these activities go far beyond entertainment — they’re tools to guide, inspire, and mentor young people through their academic and personal journeys.
Celebrating the Winners
The event ended with a sense of pride and celebration as several schools walked away as champions:
- Scholar College Solid Foundation held on to its title in the spelling bee.
- Mary N. Brownell School once again took the top spot in the quizzing category.
- William V. S. Tubman School emerged as the new champion in the debate competition.
“These young people didn’t just win. They earned respect through their preparation and hard work,” said Foko. “They showed the kind of discipline and commitment that we hope to see from all students across our district.”
Gratitude to Partners and Organizers
Representative Foko also expressed heartfelt thanks to MONSU District 9 Chapter for their energy, commitment, and voluntary service in organizing the program. He praised their consistency and encouraged them to keep working to uplift the youth in the district.
He also thanked the leadership of the Liberia National Students Union (LINSU) and MONSU for attending the event and adding value to the celebration. “Your presence wasn’t just symbolic — it meant a lot to me, to the students, and to the entire community,” he said.
To the teachers, coaches, and administrators who supported the students throughout the competition, Foko had nothing but admiration. “You didn’t just prepare them. You stood by them. You showed what it means to be mentors, and the results showed in the students’ performance.”
He also extended gratitude to all the participating schools for their enthusiasm and teamwork, calling the event a collective victory for education in District 9.
Looking Ahead
As the curtains close on this year’s academic competition, Representative Foko reaffirmed his vision of building a stronger District 9 by investing in its young people.
“We’re not just organizing events. We’re shaping lives and building a future, one student at a time,” he said. “And we’ll keep doing that, year after year.”
