Oratorical Contest

Pictured are contest judges Steve Kennedy and the Honorable U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen, First District Legion Commander Fred Lemos, First District contest winner Sumanth Chintamani, of Munster, and contest judges Dave Cerven and the Honorable Lake County Superior Court Judge Jeffery Dywan.

Oratorical competition highlights U.S. Constitution, citizenship

MUNSTER | Twenty-four high school students competed at the district level of the American Legion High School Oratorical and Scholarship competition on January 24, 2010 at Munster High School.

The students were required to deliver an eight- to 10-minute speech on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution with emphasis on the attendant duties of American citizenship.

The winner, Sumanth Chintamani, a junior at Munster High School, moved on to the regional competition in LaPorte where he placed third.

A Logansport high school student, Emily McAllister, of Faith Christian School, won the regional competition and is headed to the state finals March 7 in Indianapolis.

The national finals are in April, also in Indianapolis.

The national winner receives an $18,000 college scholarship, with the state winner receiving $3,400, in addition to other prize money won at the district and regional levels.