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District American Legion Oratorical contest |
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District American Legion Oratorical contest |
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The First Amendment’s right for people to peaceably assembly in order to effect change in government was eloquently articulated by Munster High School junior Deepa Devanathan all the way to a first place victory in the First District (Lake County), Department of Indiana American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Competition on Sunday, January 30th at Munster High School.
13 High School Students from Munster High School and Highland High School competed for the right to advance to the Indiana regional competition in a preliminary round and final round. Regional winners advance to the state finals in Indianapolis, with that winner advancing to the national contest, also in Indianapolis. State winners garner over $3,400 in scholarship money while the national first, second and third place winners receive $18,000, $16,000 and $14,000 respectively. The competition is open to all high schools.
The American Legion Oratorical competition has been conducted for 74 years. Student competitors deliver an 8 – 10 minute speech on some aspect of the US Constitution, with emphasis on attendant duties of citizenship. Beyond the district level competition, a second 3 – 5 minute speech on a randomly selected topic is also presented.
Devanathan, who also participates in Munster High School’s We the People class and competition, emphasized how the Right to Assembly as prescribed in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights was both important and necessary for the people to make necessary changes in our government. Detailing specific examples of how groups of people have come together peaceably to promote change, she noted that it was both a right and obligation for people to participate in their government.
Pictured with the judges of the final district round competition is the contest winner Devanathan and the three other student finalists. L. to R. are: Hon. Michael Griffin, Clerk Treasurer, Highland, Niral Shah, Munster High School, Hon. Jesse Villalpando, Lake Superior Court, Jennifer Ostrowski, Highland High School, Hon. Andrew Rodovich, US District Court Magistrate, Tom Collins, Munster High School, Hon. Jon DeGuilio, US District Court, Deepa Devanathan, Hon. Calvin Hawkins, Lake Superior Court. Picture courtesy of Bernard Tiltges, American Legion.
Oratorical Scholorship Contest (National Website)