Esten Johnsen-SHS Senior and Kinlee Goracke-SMS Both Named Champions at American Legion District 12 Oratorical Contest

November 04, 2024

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Esten Johnsen-SHS Senior and Kinlee Goracke-SMS Both Named Champions at American Legion District 12 Oratorical Contest. Esten won First Place in the High School Division and Kinlee was the Middle School Champion.  Esten is the son of Steven and Angela Johnsen of Seward.  Esten presented a nine minute, memorized speech on the US Constitution.  His speech was “We the People!” and he was then asked to speak extemporaneously on the Amendment I for three to five minutes on the topic.

Kinlee Goracke is the Eight Grade daughter of Laura and Darrin Goracke of Seward and presented a five-minute speech on the US Constitution as well.  She was selected to represent Seward Middle School from a pool of six finalists at the SMS. Because she was in the Junior Division, she did not have a time limit, was allowed to use a notecard, and did not have to present an extemporaneous speech on an amendment. 

The American Legion District 12 Oratorical Contest was held on Sunday, November 3^rd, 2024 at 1:00 pm at the Nebraska National Guard Museum in Seward. Martin Neal of Hickman, NE the District 12 Commander, welcomed the group to the American Legion Oratorical District 12 Contest and Joe Ruzicka - the Seward American Legion Post #33 Commander, the hosts for the contest, welcomed the visitors to the contest and to the Nebraska National Guard Museum and Seward. The gathering opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the US Flag.  Ken Meyer of the Seward American Legion Post 33, served as the District 12 Oratorical Chairman and as Sargeant of Arms for the speakers.  Clark Kolterman of Seward served as the Emcee for the event and assisted with the arrangements for the contest with Ken Meyer. 

Each high school 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 was asked to speak extemporaneously for three to five minutes on the selected Amendment.  The Amendments selected for the contest were Amendments I, VII, XVIII, XXVI.  He drew Amendment I to speak on for the contest this time.

Esten was awarded a special “Thomas Bosmeniel” Memorial trophy, a gold medal and will receive a $100 cash scholarship from their District Contest, after he attends and participates in the American Legion Area C contest, which is a requirement of the scholarship award.  The Area C Contest will be held in Seward, at the Seward Civic Center on Sunday, December 1^st at 1:00 pm, again hosted by American Legion Post 33 of Seward.  Goracke also received a Gold Medal for being the Junior Champion.

The “Thomas Bosmeniel” Memorial trophy is presented annually by his family and friends in memory of the late Thomas Bosmeniel, who died in 2018, during his freshman year at the University of Nebraska. Thomas had been the winner of the District 12 American Legion Speech Contest twice-sponsored by Post 33, won the American Legion Area C Oratorical Contest twice and was a State American Legion Finalist twice. He had loved the American Legion Oratorical Contest and the values of its program and was also a proud alum of the American Legion Boys State program.  It was presented by Thomas’ mother, Anna Downing of Ulysses, Nebraska at the Oratorical Contest.

Judges for both Oratorical contests were Anna Downing of Ulyssess, NE, Zane Francescato of Seward and Marv Taylor of Seward.  Following the presentation they did meet with the two winners and shared ideas and observations of the student presentations. 

Refreshments were served, compliments of the Nebraska National Guard Historical Society, hosted by Gerald Meyer-Nebraska National Guard Museum Historian. 

The next meeting will be the Area C Oratorical Contest, also in Seward at the Nebraska National Guard Museum at 1:00 pm on December 1^st, 2024, where Esten will represent District 12 and compete for the opportunity to represent the Area C at the State Contest in January of 2025 and become one of the four State Finalists.

Group Photo-L-R Joe Ruzicka-Seward Commander American Legion Post 33, Zane Francescato-Judge, Marv Taylor-Judge, Laura Goracke-(Kinllee’s Mother), Kinlee Goracke-Junior Champion, Darrin Goracke (Kinlee’s Father), Esten Johnsen-District 12 American Legion-Ne Champion, Angela Johnsen (Esten’s Mother), Anna Downing-Judge, Marin Neal-District 12 Commander of Hickman, Ken Meyer-District 12 Oratorical Contest Chair and Sergeant of Arms for the Contest-representing NE Post 33 of Seward.