American Legion holds 70th Annual Oratorical Contest

Daniel Metzger of Charleston receives congratulations from American Legion Zone 3 Commander Thomas Blessinger for winning the 70th Annual Oratorical Contest.

By Warner M. Montgomery

Warner@TheColumbiaStar.com

Five high school students competed last Saturday for scholarships in the 70th Annual American Legion Oratorical Contest held at American Legion Post 6. The zone winner was Daniel Metzger, a home- schooled student from Charleston. Runners- up were Brandon Cooper from Berkeley High School, Angelique Moore from Wade Hampton High School (Hampton), Andrew Dendle from Goose Creek (home- schooled), and Myrella Samuels from Lexington High School.

Each of the students gave an eight to ten- minute prepared speech on the Constitution and a three to five- minute extemporaneous speech on the 26th Amendment, which gave those over the age of 18 the right to vote. The judges were Kay McClanahan, a former SLED agent who was the first woman to be named the S.C. Hero of the Year; Robert Reed, retired chief of Product Development of GE- Phillips Electronics; Dr. Jim Fisher, president of Educology Research Associates and professor at South University; and Dr. Warner M. Montgomery, publisher of The Columbia Star . Thomas Blessinger, Zone 3 Commander of the S.C. American Legion was coordinator of the contest.

Runners- up in the American Legion Oratorical Contest are (l-r) Myrella Samuels from Lexington High School, Andrew Dendle from Goose Creek (home schooled), Angelique Moore from Wade Hampton High School (Hampton), and Brandon Cooper from Berkeley High School.

The purpose of the contest is to develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the U.S. Constitution on the part of high school students. The zone winner received a $100 scholarship. The state winner will be awarded a $3,500 scholarship, and the national winner will receive an $18,000 scholarship.