American Legion Regional Oratorical Speech Contest Held in Seward at the Civic Center

December 11, 2018

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MicKael Halverstadt of Carleton, NE, the daughter of-Sheena Halverstadt anda Junior at Thayer Central High School was selected the First Place winner in the recent American Legion Oratorical Regional C contest in Seward and Seth Van Engelenhoven, Seward High Senior, was named First Runner-Up.   The American Legion Oratorical Contest was held on Saturday, December 07, 2018 at 7:00 pm at the Seward Civic Center in Seward. Seth was selected to represent District 12 and American Legion Post of Seward #33 at the Regional Contest and MicKael represented District 11 and American Legion Post 180. Wade Graft-Area C Vice-Commander, welcomed the group on behalf of the American Legion Oratorical Regional Contest and Jim Ehlers, of the Seward American Legion Post #33, the host for the contest, welcomed the visitors to the contest and to the Seward Civic Center and Seward. A prayer opened the evening led byFred Craigie (Alt. National Executive Committeeman) followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by-Gerry Wolf (Dist. Commander Dist.15).

Each contestant was  asked to prepare and write an eight to ten minute oration on some aspect of the US Constitution, then draw one of four US Constitution Amendments and then to speak extemporaneously for three to five minutes on the selected Amendment.  The Amendments selected for the contest were Amendments 1, 4, 13 and 21.  They drew Amendment 4 for the extemporaneous speech on the Freedoms-- “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

Each finalist was awarded a trophy and they received their $100 cash scholarship from their District Contest, which was a requirement of the scholarship award.   The title of MicKael’s speech was titled “Immigration and the US Constitution,” and Seth’s speech was titled “Why Voting Matters!”

Judges for the event were educators-Tonia Nantkes, Cliff Lowell and Nancy Schulz. Riley Nuttleman served as the timer for the contest.  Refreshments followed the contest. Clark Kolterman served as the program emcee. The meeting concluded with a prayer by State American Legion Chaplin William C. Jackson Jr.

MicKael will represent Region C at the State American Legion Oratorical contest and compete against three other regional winners for the opportunity to represent Nebraska at the National American Legion Oratorical contest in January in Norfolk.  She will again be asked to present a ten minute oration on some aspect of the US Constitution and one of the same four Amendments to be drawn that evening. There are five Districts competing at the Regional Level.  The winner from the Regional level will advance to the State Contest in January. Seth was officially sponsored by the Seward American Legion Post #33.  MicKael is sponsored by American Legion Post 181 in Hebron.