HIGHLAND POST 201
2919 Bardstown Road Louisville, KY 40205


legion-logo-home.jpg

Christina Sauer  - 2010 Contest Winner

Oratorical_2010.jpg
Pictured above are the 2010 Highland Post 201 American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest Participants.  Left to right is:  Brittany Johnson, Travis Fiechter, Christina Sauer and Daisha Webster. 
Highland Post 201 held its 2010 Oratorical Contest on Sunday, January 10th in the Log Cabin.  The Oratorical Contest is part of the American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest.  Contestants compete at the Post level and advance through the District, Area, Department and finally National.  We were honored with four contestants.  They were Brittany Johnson, a  sophomore from Fern Creek, Travis Fiechter, a senior from Saint Xavier, Christina Sauer, a senior and Daisha Webster, a freshman, both from Presentation Academy. 

The winner of the contest was Christina Sauer who will be competing in the Area Contest, scheduled for January 31st  at  the American Legion Post 34 in Lawrenceburg, KY. 

Christina was the 2009 Department of Kentucky winner and competed at the 2009 National Contest, winning the first round and losing to the National Champion during the second round.  

We are very proud of all of our contestants and wish the best to Christina as she advances through the stages.  She stated her goal this year is to become National Champion and win the $18,000 first place prize.

With Daisha Webster being a freshman and Brittany Johnson a sophomore, both stated they will be back next year to compete in the 2011 contest.

Thanks to all the legionaries who took part in making the contest a success.  

                                                                        - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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.

Schedule for the 2010 Contest is as follows:

          Highland Post 201 Contest - Log Cabin - January 3, 2010

          5th District Contest - Highland Post 201 - January 10, 2010

          Area B Contest - Lawrenceburg - January 31, 2010

          Department Contest - Frankfort - February 28, 2010

          National Contest - Indianapolis - April 9 - 11, 2010

Each Highland Post 201 contestant participating at the post level will receive a $100 cash scholarship.  The winner of the 5th District will receive a cash scholarship as approved by the 5th District. 

Each District winner participating in the Area Contest receives a $100 cash scholarship and a bronze medal.  Awards for Area winners participating in the Department finals are: 1st Place - $1000 cash scholarship, a gold medal and a trophy; 2nd Place - $800 cash scholarship and a silver medal and 3rd Place - $600 cash scholarship and a bronze medal. 

The state winner qualifies for the first round of the National Contest held at the IUPUI Convention Centedr and Hotel, Indianapolis, IN.  National scholarship awards are presented to the three finalists in the Final Round of the National contest as follows: 1st Place - $18,000, 2nd Place - $16,000 and 3rd Place - $14,000.   

The time allotted for each contestant to deliver their Prepared Oration shall not be less than eight (8) or more than ten (10) minutes and for the Assigned Topic, not less than three (3) or more than five (5) minutes.

Prepared Oration (8 to 10 Minutes) - The Prepared Oration must be on some aspect of the Constitution of the United States with emphasis on the duties and obligations of a citizen to our government. The same subject and oration used in the Post Contest must be used in the District, Area, Department and National Contest.

Assigned Topic (3 to 5 Minutes) - Approximately five minutes prior to the time of the delivery of the Assigned Topic (see four assigned topics for 2008 listed below), each contestant will be informed of the topic drawn for the Assigned Topic and shall be permitted to retire to privacy under the direction of an individual appointed by the Contest Chairman.
Four Assigned Topics for 2010  
Article 4 Section 3 Para 1

New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.

Article 5

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

Amendment 5

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment 6

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

To become a contestant or request information on-line about contests in our area go the the YOUTH PROGRAMS page on this site and complete the sign up form.  A program chairman from Highland Post 201 will contact you shortly.

For information on the National High School Oratorical Contest please contact the post at (502) 458-1525.  Additional on-line details may be found:  http://www.legion.org/oratorical