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.
by larryw | Dec 1, 2022 | American Legion Post 178, Community, Events, Oratorical
Five high school students from the Frisco area have registered to compete for college scholarships at the American Legion post 178 Oratorical Scholarship Contest. The competition will be held on Saturday, December 10 at 9 A.M. at the Grove at Frisco Commons, 8300 McKinney Road, Frisco, TX 75034.
Orators are required to write and memorize an original speech on some aspect of the Constitution, with emphasis on a citizen’s duties and obligations to our government. Additionally, the contest requires the orator to deliver extemporaneous remarks regarding one of four amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The specific amendment will be drawn on the day of the competition.
Up to 4 winners will be selected to proceed to the district contest in Royse City on January 7, 2022. They will compete with winners from other posts in the 4th District. The contest is open to the public and admission free.
Learn more about the American Legion Peter J Courcy Post 178 at friscolegion.org
by larryw | Apr 21, 2022 | Oratorical
Terry Gilbert, Vice Commander, and Oratorical Program Chairman presented Emma red roses and a Post 178 coin after her presentation.
Miss Emma Ko, a senior, home school, graciously shared her 2022 oratorical contest experiences with members at their April membership meeting. Miss Ko participated in the contest for the past two years. In 2021, she participated in the district contest, but in 2022 she progressed to the department finals where she finished as first runner up.
At each contest, Miss Ko delivered two orations; a prepared oration and a randomly assigned constitutional topic oration. She impressed the judges with her prepared topic, “The Humble Article” and multiple assigned topic orations.
During her presentation, Miss Ko commented that the positivity shared by post members at each contest level was immensely helpful to her performance. She also commented that the frequent communication with Terry Gilbert, the 2022 Oratorical Committee Chairman, was also extremely helpful. Finally, she felt that her experiences would have a significant, positive impact on her future goals.
For her performances in the four contests, she received college scholarships totaling $5,000. For her outstanding oratory performances, she was recognized by the Frisco City Council and Mayor Jeff Chaney who presented her a Certificate of Achievement.
Post 178 is enormously proud of Emma and wish her every success in her college endeavors.
by larryw | Feb 21, 2022 | American Legion Post 178, Oratorical
Emma Ko, a senior, home school, was selected as the first runner-up from four orators in the American Legion Department of Texas Oratorical Contest in San Antonio on Monday, February 21, 2022. She is the second orator since Post 178 was chartered in 2014 to compete for the state title.
Previously, she was selected a winner in the Post 178 contest in Frisco, the 4th District contest in Royce City, and the 1st Division contest in Denton. For winning those three contests, she received scholarships totaling $3,500. Including her $1,500 scholarship for being selected as first runner-up, Ms. Ko has earned scholarships totaling $5,000.
If for any reason the winner is unable to compete in the national contest, Ms. Ko as the department first runner-up may be substituted for the winner in Indianapolis, Indiana in March.
by larryw | Feb 14, 2022 | Oratorical, Press Release
Members of Post 178 Post Executive Committee congratulate Miss Ko for winning the 1st Division Contest. Photo by Ed Reed.
Emma Ko, a senior, home school, was selected the winner of the American Legion 1st Division Oratorical Contest in Denton on Saturday, February 12, 2022. Previously, she was selected a winner in the Post 178 contest in Frisco and the 4th District contest in Royce City. For winning the three contests, she received scholarships totaling $3,500.
Other 1st Division contest participants included orators from Post 655 in Haltom City and Post 71 in Denton. Each of the contestants delivered two orations, a prepared oration and a randomly assigned constitutional topic oration. Ms. Ko impressed the judges with her prepared topic, “The Humble Article,” and assigned topic, Amendment 3 concerning the quartering of soldiers in peacetime and war.
Ms. Ko will now advance to the American Legion Department Oratorical Contest on Monday, February 21, 2022, in San Antonio, Texas. There, four division contest winners from across the entire state will compete for the opportunity to participate in the national contest in Indianapolis, Indiana, in March.
