by larryw | Feb 21, 2025 | Oratorical
Orators included (L – R) Scarlett Sweckard, 1st Division, Daniel Ruppawalla, 2nd Division, Sophia Logsdon, 3rd Division, and Evelyn Fisher, 4th Division.
Ms. Scarlett Rae Sweckard, a junior at Frisco ISD Reedy High School, was awarded first runner-up honors at the Department of Texas Constitutional Speech Contest on Saturday, February 17, 2025, in Lubbock, TX.
Scarlett had previously successfully competed in the American Legion Peter J Courcy Post 178, the 4th District, and 1st Division contests. As runner-up. She received a $1,500 college scholarship. In total, she accumulated $6,000 in scholarships to be used at the college of her choice. As runner-up, she will also advance to the national contest if the winner, Evelyn Fisher, 4th Division, Post 575, should be unable to compete.
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. Contests are held annually for high school students to encourage and develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution.
Post 178 members join the Frisco ISD and the broader Frisco community in expressing its pride in her accomplishments and extending best wishes for her continued success.
Since Post 178 was formed in 2014, its post contest has advanced three contestants to the State contest.
by larryw | Feb 4, 2025 | Oratorical, Press Release
Ms. Scarlett Rae Sweckard, winner of the 1st Division Constitutional Speech Contest, holds a check representing her scholarship winnings.
On February 1, 2025, Scarlett Rae Sweckard, a junior at Frisco ISD Reedy High School, was announced the winner of the 1st Division Constitutional Speech Contest in Denton, TX. Scarlett had previously successfully competed in the American Legion Peter J Courcy Post 178 and the 4th District contests and now advances to the State competition in Lubbock, TX on February 17, 2025.
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. Contests are held annually for area high school students to encourage and develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution. Her extraordinary speaking style and skills as well as her in-depth demonstrated knowledge of the US Constitution resulted in her first-place finish.
For winning the 1st Division contest, Ms. Sweckard won $3,500 scholarship funds. To date she has accumulated more than $4,500 in scholarship funds to be used at the college of her choice.
Post 178 members join the Frisco ISD and the broader Frisco community in expressing its pride in her accomplishments and best wishes for continued success at the State contest and beyond.
Since Post 178 was formed in 2014, its post contest has advanced three contestants to the State contest.
by larryw | Jan 5, 2025 | Oratorical
(L-R) Orators included Scarlett Rae Sweckard, Kanad S Bhandarkar, Milan G McKnight, and Saanvi Sharma. Photo by Ed Reed.
Winners of the 4th District Oratorical Contest were announced on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at The Grove at Frisco Commons in Frisco, TX. Four orators from Post 178 participated with two, a winner and her alternate, being selected. The winner received a $500 college scholarship to any college of her choosing.
Each contestant delivered a prepared 8–10-minute oration as well as a 3–5-minute oration on a randomly assigned constitutional topic. The four contestants included: Kanad S Chandra, Junior at Liberty High School; Milan G McKnight, Junior at Reedy High School; Saanvi Sharma, Junior at Panther Creek High School; and Scarlett Rae Sweckard, Junior at Reedy High School.
Scarlett Rae Sweckard was announced the winner and Kanad S Chandra was selected as the alternate. Miss Sweckard’s prepared oration was titled “In Defense of the Second Amendment.” The assigned topic oration was the 18th Amendment.
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. 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 1st Division contest will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025, in Denton, TX.
by larryw | 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.
by larryw | Dec 13, 2023 | American Legion Post 178, Oratorical
Front Row L-R: Terry Gilbert, Vice Commander, Oratorical Chair, Scarlett Sweckard, Smeet Jaokar, Neha Ramachandran, Kaaviya Shenbaharaman, Ed Reed, Post 178 Commander.
Back Row L-R: Varad Kulkarni, Sankeertana Malakapalli, Dhyana Ramakrishnan, Jyothirmayi Seelam, Rudrani Dutta, Elizan Ramos.
The American Legion Post 178 Oratorical Scholarship Contest had a record number of high school orators participate in its 2023 contest. Four winners were selected from eleven orators, and each received a $500 college scholarship to any college of their choosing. The contest was held at The Grove at Frisco Commons on Saturday, December 9. The four winning orators will now compete at the district contest in Royse City on January 6, 2024, along with other post winners from the 4th District.
Each contestant delivered a prepared oration as well as an oration on a randomly assigned constitutional topic. The four winners selected were Scarlett Sweckard, Smeet Jaokar, Neha Ramachandran, and Kaaviya Shenbaharaman.
The American Legion Oratorical Scholarship Program began in 1938 and encourages high school students to study the U.S. Constitution and improve their public speaking skills. Post 178 annually holds this contest for high school students to 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 ability to think and speak clearly, and an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights, and privileges of American citizenship.
by larryw | Dec 12, 2022 | American Legion Post 178, Community, Oratorical, Press Release
Photo , – (L-R) Cooper A Cobbs- Cobbs Homeschool, Caedmon McCoy-McCoy Homeschool, Kaaviya Shenbaharaman- Plano West Senior High School PISD, Pranav A Kalkunte-Independence High School FISD. Photo Credit: John Brady
Four high school students from the Frisco area were named winners and received $250 college scholarships at the American Legion Post 178 Oratorical Scholarship Contest. The competition was held at The Grove at Frisco Commons on Saturday, December 10. The four orators will now compete at the district contest in Royse City on January 7, 2023, with other post winners from the 4th District.
Each contestant delivered a prepared oration as well as an oration on a randomly assigned constitutional topic. The four winners were: Cooper A Cobbs- Cobbs Homeschool, Caedmon McCoy-McCoy Homeschool, Kaaviya Shenbaharaman- Plano West Senior High School PISD, Pranav A Kalkunte-Independence High School FISD
The American Legion Oratorical Scholarship Program began in 1938 and encourages high school students to study the U.S. Constitution and improve their public speaking skills. Post 178 annually holds this contest for students in the Frisco area to 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 ability to think and speak clearly, and an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights, and privileges of American citizenship.
