Because of this storm, the State Oratory finals were rescheduled to the next weekend.
Here are the participants. Click on the photo for a larger image.
Shown above are our 2013 State Oratorical participants
with their trophies. From left; State Commander Bryon Callies,
Rachel Schartz of Humboldt, First Place winner;
Lauren Fuhr of Spearfish, Second Place winner;
Kimberly Chow of Dakota Dunes, Third Place winner;
Abby Boner of Castlewood, Fourth Place winner;
Logan Welker of Colome, Fifth Place winner;
Cody Gunther of Aberdeen, Sixth Place winner;
and Fred Nelson, State Americanism Chairman.
Sophomore Rachel Schartz, West Central High School, took first place Sunday in the South Dakota American Legion Oratorical Contest, held in Oacoma.
Schartz, the daughter of Frank and Ann Schartz, Humboldt, was one of six students who earlier had won in their districts. She now has the National American Legion Oratorical Contest ahead of her in April, to be held in Indianapolis, Ind.
Second place was Lauren Fuhr, Spearfish, and third was Kimberly Chou, Dakota Dunes. Fuhr will compete nationally if, for some reason, Schartz is unable to do so, said State Americanism Chairman Fred Nelson, Spearfish.
Other winners named were Abbie Boner, Castlewood, fourth; Logan Welker, Colome, fifth; and Cody Gunther, sixth, Aberdeen.
Prizes awarded at this level are scholarships, with Schartz winning $1,000; Fuhr, $500; and Chou, $300. The remaining three each won a $100 scholarship.
Schartz now can look forward to receiving another $1,500 scholarship for participating in the first round of the national contest. Each first-round winner who advances, but does not qualify for the finals receives an additional $1,500 scholarship. However, the three finalists nationally receive $18,000 for the first place, $16,000 for second; and $14,000 for third place.
West Central High School government teacher JoAnn Bohl was instrumental in organizing the local level of the contest, but she, as well as other school officials, was unavailable for comment at press time, due to a school holiday. Eight students participated locally in a two-tier contest that involved all four grades of high school.
The local contest was coordinated by Charles Dubbe, Americanism Officer, William H. Crippen American Legion Post 62. The Humboldt Post also awarded prizes for winners, with Schartz winning a total of $500 between the two local contests. The district competition was held in Humboldt in January, coordinated by District Americanism Officer Doug Meyer, Humboldt.
Joe Schartz, Rachel’s older brother, also competed nationally as a sophomore and as a junior. Rachel Schartz noted that seeing her brother compete had helped her know what to expect. Her speech, which lasted exactly 10 minutes on Sunday, centered on the theme of Betsy Ross and her courage to create the first United States flag. The flag as a symbol of the American Constitution was central to her speech.
Besides the 8-10 minute prepared speech, competitors Sunday were asked to speak 3-5 minutes on one of three Constitutional Amendments. The Amendment drawn was the one dealing with the terms of the presidency. Schartz’s speech lasted 4 minutes and 16 seconds.
Rachel won’t be resting on her laurels, noted her mother. “Now the work begins,” Ann Schartz said, with the polishing and tweaking of her speech that will be delivered again in April in Indianapolis.
State Oratorical Contest Winner
By Elizabeth “Sam” Grosz
Schartz, the daughter of Frank and Ann Schartz, Humboldt, was one of six students who earlier had won in their districts. She now has the National American Legion Oratorical Contest ahead of her in April, to be held in Indianapolis, Ind.
Second place was Lauren Fuhr, Spearfish, and third was Kimberly Chou, Dakota Dunes. Fuhr will compete nationally if, for some reason, Schartz is unable to do so, said State Americanism Chairman Fred Nelson, Spearfish.
Other winners named were Abbie Boner, Castlewood, fourth; Logan Welker, Colome, fifth; and Cody Gunther, sixth, Aberdeen.
Prizes awarded at this level are scholarships, with Schartz winning $1,000; Fuhr, $500; and Chou, $300. The remaining three each won a $100 scholarship.
Schartz now can look forward to receiving another $1,500 scholarship for participating in the first round of the national contest. Each first-round winner who advances, but does not qualify for the finals receives an additional $1,500 scholarship. However, the three finalists nationally receive $18,000 for the first place, $16,000 for second; and $14,000 for third place.
West Central High School government teacher JoAnn Bohl was instrumental in organizing the local level of the contest, but she, as well as other school officials, was unavailable for comment at press time, due to a school holiday. Eight students participated locally in a two-tier contest that involved all four grades of high school.
The local contest was coordinated by Charles Dubbe, Americanism Officer, William H. Crippen American Legion Post 62. The Humboldt Post also awarded prizes for winners, with Schartz winning a total of $500 between the two local contests. The district competition was held in Humboldt in January, coordinated by District Americanism Officer Doug Meyer, Humboldt.
Joe Schartz, Rachel’s older brother, also competed nationally as a sophomore and as a junior. Rachel Schartz noted that seeing her brother compete had helped her know what to expect. Her speech, which lasted exactly 10 minutes on Sunday, centered on the theme of Betsy Ross and her courage to create the first United States flag. The flag as a symbol of the American Constitution was central to her speech.
Besides the 8-10 minute prepared speech, competitors Sunday were asked to speak 3-5 minutes on one of three Constitutional Amendments. The Amendment drawn was the one dealing with the terms of the presidency. Schartz’s speech lasted 4 minutes and 16 seconds.
Rachel won’t be resting on her laurels, noted her mother. “Now the work begins,” Ann Schartz said, with the polishing and tweaking of her speech that will be delivered again in April in Indianapolis.