Annual American Legion High School Oratorical Contest Winner
The annual American Legion High School Oratorical Contest was held last Thursday at the Litchfield American Legion. First place honors, and a $500 scholarship, went to Ayden Hilker – son of Jeremy Hilker and Krystal Chapin of Litchfield.
Ayden is a junior attending Litchfield High School. No other contestants from Litchfield applied to compete for these scholarship funds.
The Oratorical Contest ask students to prepare an 8-to-10-minute oration which must be on some aspect of the United States Constitution with emphasis on citizen’s duties and obligations to our government. The champions of each contest advance to the next level.
The American Legion provides scholarship funds at every level of the contest. The national contest provides $25,000 to the 1st place champion. Winning contestants will have the opportunity to advance from the local post competition to district, state and the national contests. Each contest provides scholarship funds. The national contest will be held May 15-to-17 in Hillsdale, Michigan.
Ayden Hilker will advance to the Seventh District American Legion contest which will be held at the Willmar American Legion on February 1st at 1 P.M. where the 1st place scholarship is $800. Additional scholarship prizes for 2nd and 3rd will be available. The 1st Place winner of the 7th District contest will advance to the State contest to be held on February 28th where the 1st place Scholarship is $1,500. The winner will advance to the National American Legion High School Oratorical Contest. All expenses are provided by the American Legion and their various contests.
Americanism Chair Reuben Nathe says the Nelsan-Horton Post #104 would like to thank the Litchfield High School staff for their assistance and Post #104 volunteers including Auxiliary member Brenda Rick, LHS Principal Jason Michels and Counselor Laura Nelson.
