American Legion District 9 speech winners

Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Courtesy photo Devin Hastings and Kyla Monie, both of Arapahoe, Nebraska, were winners in the American Legion District 9 Oratorical scholarship program.

McCOOK, Nebraska -- American Legion District 9 had its High School Oratorical Scholarship Program, "A Constitutional Speech Contest," on Sunday, Nov. 17, at the Evangelical Free Church in McCook. This annual event was won by Devin Hastings, a senior at Arapahoe High School, sponsored by American Legion Post No. 343 of Edison, Nebraska. Second place went to Kyla Monie, also a senior at Arapahoe High School, sponsored by American Legion Post No. 96, of Arapahoe.

Hasting's speech, titled "Our Obligation to Freedom," won him $150 and an expense-paid trip to the Area D contest competition in Hyannis, Nebraska, on Sunday, Dec. 14. He will compete at 1:30 p.m. MST. The winner of the Area D competition will advance to the American Legion Department of Nebraska finals in Kearney, Nebraska, Jan. 18 at the Holiday Inn at 6 p.m. The winner of the department competition will advance to the National Finals April 4 -- 6, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Scholarship awards are presented to the first three finalists in the final round of the national contest as follows: First place -- $18,000; second place -- $16,000; third place -- $14,000.

Each Certified Department (state) winner who participates in the first round at the national finals will receive a $1,500 scholarship. Each first round winner who advances to and participates in the second round, but does not advance to the final round, will receive an additional $1,500 scholarship.

Nebraska has entered the area competition and students who wish to compete next year must find the rules at the website at legion.org/oratorical or contact your local high school counselor or speech teacher.

Submitted by Russel Wood, District 9 Oratorical Chairman.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: