8th District Department of Wisconsin

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ORATORICAL

The purpose of The American Legion’s National High School Oratorical Contest is to develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States on the part of high school students. Other objectives of the contest include the development of leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly and intelligently, and the preparation for acceptance of the duties and responsibilities, the rights and privileges of American citizenship.

Start an Oratorical Contest for your children at your Post.

 

Shawano Student Wins 8th District Oratorical Contest at PAC

     Bailey Bergmann, a home-schooled junior from the Shawano Community School District, took first place honors at the annual competition of the 8th District of the Wisconsin American Legion's Oratorical Scholarship Program.  The competition was held Saturday morning, February 5th, at the McComb/Bruchs Performing Arts Center.  Miss Bergmann will now go on to the regional and state competition at the Rodman Center of the Arts at Ripon College on Saturday, February 19th.  The title of Bergmann's prepared presentation was "The Constitution's Foundation."

     Other contestants were:  Bethany Tiffany, Mosinee, representing Portage County, Alayna Kjentvet, Wild Rose, representing Waushara County, and Megan Pietrowski of Vesper, representing Wood County.

     The purpose of The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program "A Constitutional Speech Contest" is to develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States on the part of high school students.  Other objectives of the contest include the development of leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly and intelligently, and the preparation for acceptance of the duties and responsibilities, the rights and priviledges of American citizenship.

     Progression in winning begins at the high school level, and as hosted by an American Legion Post of, or near, that community.  Winners of that level then go on to compete and the county level, with the winner of each advancing to the District contest.  There are 12 Districts in the Department of Wisconsin.  The 8th District consists of 6 counties:  Marathon, Portage, Shawano, Waupaca, Wautoma and Wood.

     Contest rules are established by the Americanism Committee of the national organization of the American Legion.  Each contestant must prepare their own presentation on some aspect of the Constitution of the United States with emphasis on the duties and obligations of a citizen to our government.  This presentation must be delivered in a timed period of 8-10 minutes.  In addition to their originally prepared oration, each must speak on one of four topics, randomly selected from the rules pamphlet.  The time allotted to speak on an assigned topic is 3-5 minutes.  Contestants are informed which one of the four topics they are to speak on only a few minutes before being called to the stage. 

     Wayne Winter, Oratorical Chairman of the 8th District and member of Wautoma's Wolman-Minsky Post 317, said:  "You really have to appreciate the time and effort each one of these contestants put into this program.  They obviously have to study the content of the Constitution, research beyond it, write it and edit;  then rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.  Win, or not, each has to leave with pride."

Submitted by:

Wayne A. Winter, Oratorical Contest Chairman