Post 178 Sets New Record for Number of Oratorical Speech Participants

Post 178 Sets New Record for Number of Oratorical Speech Participants

by | Dec 17, 2024 | American Legion Post 178, Oratorical

L-R: Anaira Upadhyay ,Madhuryasri Pedireddy, Ved Srinivasan, Kanad S. Bhandarkar, Briana Elegbede, Scarlett Rae Sweckard, Andrew G Ables, Saanvi Sharma, Milan G McKnight, Aarti Srinivasan, Krithik Aggarwal, Saanvi Polishetty.

The American Legion Post 178 Oratorical Scholarship Contest set a new all-time record for the number of high school orators that participated in its 2024 contest.  Four winners were selected from the twelve orators, and each winner received a $500 college scholarship to any college of their choosing.  The contest was held at The Grove at Frisco Commons on Saturday, December 14, 2024.  The four winning orators will now have the opportunity to compete with other 4th District post winners in Frisco on January 4, 2025, at The Grove at Frisco Commons.

Each contestant delivered a prepared 8–10-minute oration as well as a 3–5-minute oration on a randomly assigned constitutional topic.  The twelve contestants included: Aarti Srinivasan, Sophomore at Independence High School; Anaira Upadhyay Senior at Independence High School; Andrew G Ables, Junior at Panther Creek High School; Briana Elegbede, Junior at Emerson High School; Kanad S Bhandarkar, Junior at Liberty High School; Krithik Aggarwal, Junior at Emerson High School; Madhuryasri Pedireddy, Freshman at Independence High School; Milan G McKnight, Junior at Reedy High School; Saanvi Polishetty, Freshman, at Reedy High School; Saanvi Sharma, Junior at Panther Creek High School; Scarlett Rae Sweckard, Junior at Reedy High School and Ved Srinivasan, Sophomore at Reedy High School.

The four winners were L-R: Scarlett Rae Sweckard, Saanvi Sharma, Kanad S Bhandarkar, Milan G McKnight.

The American Legion Oratorical Scholarship Program began in 1935 and encourages high school students to study the U.S. Constitution and improve their public speaking skills.  Each speaker is judged on depth of knowledge of their topic and presentation and speaking skills demonstrated in their delivery.  Post 178 annually holds this contest for area high school students to encourage and develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution.  The contest presents an academic speaking challenge that teaches important leadership qualities, the history of our nation’s laws, the importance of research, the ability to think and speak clearly and an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship.

Post 178 Officers Attend Annual NJROTC Inspection

Post 178 Officers Attend Annual NJROTC Inspection

by | Dec 8, 2024 | American Legion Post 178

(L-R) Larry Wilhelm, Post Executive Committee member, Ed Reed, Immediate Past Commander, LtCol Hamartrya Tharpe, USMC, Senior Naval Science Instructor, Lebanon Trail NJROTC, and Bill Drake, Color Guard Captain.

Members of the Post 178 Executive Committee attended the Lebanon Trail NJROTC unit’s Area Manager inspection on Wednesday, December 4 at Lebanon Trail High School.  Attending were Bill Drake, Larry Wilhelm, and Ed Reed.

The inspection was required for the NJROTC unit to demonstrate their hard work and to ensure that program standards and requirements were being met. During the inspection, a unit brief was presented by the Cadet Staff, drill teams provided demonstrations, the cadet inspection was performed, and a Pass and Review ceremony was completed.