Students invited to compete in oratory contest

Shawano Community High School students have been invited by Elefson-Zeuske American Legion Post 117 to compete in the annual National High School Oratorical Contest. Mart Grams of the SCHS faculty will help coordinate the contest and coach the students. The subject in the Prepared Oration portion of the contest must be about some phase of the Constitution, emphasizing the duties and obligations of a citizen in the United States government. The oration must be an original effort of eight to 10 minutes. In addition to the oration, each contestant must also speak on one of four topics randomly selected from the rules pamphlet. The time allotted to speak on an assigned topic is three to five minutes. Contestants are informed which one of the four topics they are to speak on only a few minutes before being called to the stage. The contest is for students who welcome learning and are looking for an academic challenge and an opportunity to gain scholarship monies. In the process, they develop leadership qualities, ability to think and speak clearly and intelligently, and prepare for the duties, responsibilities, rights, and privileges of American citizenship. Orientation meetings will be held for all interested students. To date, four SCHS students have drawn paperwork to enter the contest. They are Gabrielle Tuma, Issabella Stueck, Namara Panzer and Brett Lorge. Any parents or guardians who would like more information about the contest may contact Grams at 715-526-2175, ext. 1113, or Fred Ponschok, the post’s oratorical chairman, at 715-526-3564. The post’s contest has been scheduled for 3 p.m. Jan. 8 in Room 1113 of the high school, 220 County Road B, Shawano. The location of the district and county contests is pending. Each district winner will receive a medal. Regional winners will receive $1,000 scholarships. Each of the other regional finalists will receive $600 scholarships. The state winner will be awarded a $3,000 scholarship. First runner-up will receive a $2,500 scholarship; second runner-up will receive a $2,000 scholarship.