Elmont Post hosts 1033 nat'l oratorical contest finals

The Elmont American Legion Post 1033 hosted the American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest Nassau County Finals on Dec. 17.

Six finalists competed in the event, which was preceded by three preliminary contests, including Jaclyn Schess, of Syosset High School; Sidhaant Wadhera, of Syosset High School; Alexa Serrano, of the St. Dominic High School; Joshua Sherman, of Division Avenue High School; Stephanie Pierre, of Holy Trinity High School; and Juliet Liu, of Syosset High School.

Liu and Washera, both from Syosset High School, were recently announced the first- and second-place winners of the finals, and will represent Nassau County in the 10th District Contest, which is scheduled to be held on Jan. 21 at the American Legion Post 1738: 340 Union Blvd. in West Islip.

The first and second place from the District finals will then move on to the Zone Finals, and the first place winner of the Zone Finals will advance to the State Contest. The student who places first at that contest will then represent New York State at the National Contest.

The student who places first at nationals will receive a college scholarship of $18,000; second place will be awarded $16,000; and third place will receive $14,000.

On Dec. 17, more than $600 in prize money was awarded to students participating in the county contest in Elmont, and each contestant received an American Legion Certificate of Participation. More than $1.5 million in scholarships have been awarded nationwide since the contest began in 1938.

The Zone Contest is scheduled to be held on Feb. 11 at 10 a.m., at the Elmont Memorial Library; the State Contest on March 3 at 10 a.m., in Albany; and the National Contest will be held April 13-15 at 10 a.m., in Indianapolis.

The oratorical contest is sponsored each school year by The American Legion Department of New York sponsors for the state's high school students. Angel Soto is chairman of the Nassau County American Legion Oratorical Program.

National High School Oratorical Contest contestants are required to be junior or high school — public, parochial or private — students under 20 years old, who are academically advanced and citizens United States.

According to the Legion, the topic of the contest's oration must be on a phase of the U.S. Constitution, giving emphasis to citizens' governmental duties and obligations. Orations are also required to be original efforts of each contestant, and not less than eight or more than 10 minutes in length. Additionally, the speech must be delivered in English language and from memory, without amplification or a podium.

Schools are limited to three student applicants annually.