Top orators compete in Jim Thorpe
VICTOR IZZO/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS Contestants and Legion officials gather on stage after the completion of the Eastern Judicial Sectional Oratorical Contest sponsored by the Pa. American Legion which was held this past Saturday in the Jim Thorpe Area High School auditorium. Pictured from left to right are Leonard Ziegler, District Chaplain; Frank Homme, 30th District Commander; Reginald Johnson; Rachel Lemashov; Nicole Watts; Alfred Gerhardt, Jr., Eastern Vice Commander; Joseph Kluk, Candidate for 30th District Commander; and Wally Keen, Department Assistant Sergeant at Arms.
The Eastern Judicial Sectional Oratorical Contest sponsored by the Pa. American Legion was held Saturday in the Jim Thorpe Area High School auditorium with the theme being the same as it is every year, "The Constitution".
This year's competition saw three contestants hoping to advance to the state competition which will be held in Harrisburg.
While each contestant's primary speech was of a prepared subject of their own choosing, they were then each given the same Constitution-based subject to speak on for a five minute follow-up speech.
The subject of the follow-up speech, which was randomly picked for them, was on Article 5 of the Constitution which outlines the procedures for amending the Constitution.
First prize in the contest was awarded to Reginald Johnson of Philadelphia, with Rachel Lemashov of Holland, Pa. finishing second and Nicole Watts of Pennsburg in third place.
Reginald will represent the Eastern Section of the Pa. American Legion at the State Oratorical Contest in Harrisburg.
The event was moderated by Harry J. Wynn III of Post 314 in Lehighton.
The contest is open to all eligible students from the 9th to 12th grades.For further information about it, contact your local American Legion Post.
