2012 Oratorical contestants finalized
2011 American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program participants.

2012 Oratorical contestants finalized

On April 13, 52 high school students from across the country will convene in Indianapolis at the University Place Conference Center & Hotel to compete in The American Legion’s 75th High School Oratorical Scholarship Program, "A Constitutional Speech Contest." The contest will get under way with quarterfinals on April 14 at 9:45 a.m. (EDT), followed by the semifinals at 2:45 p.m. During both sessions, the participants will present a rehearsed eight- to 10-minute oration on an aspect of the U.S. Constitution in front of judges, as well as a three- to five-minute speech on an assigned topic discourse – a phase of the Constitution selected from Articles and Sections.

The top three semifinal winners will advance to the championship finals on April 15 at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). Tune in to www.legion.org to watch the live streaming as the three top contestants vie for first place by repeating their rehearsed oration and speaking on a new assigned topic discourse.

The following are the 52 participants competing in the Legion’s 75th High School Oratorical Scholarship Program:

Moriah Hagel, Wetumpka, Ala.

Hannah Ekblad, Fairbanks, Alaska

Rachel Moses, Cave Creek, Ariz.

Caitlyn Crowder, Heber Springs, Ark.

Audrea Taylor, El Cajon, Calif.

Tayanna Todd, Monument, Colo.

Sarah Luft, Westbrook, Conn.

Alina Ehsan, Newark, Del.

Yisehak Abraham, Washington, D.C.

Christian Fernandez, Miami

Kilian Liptrot, Stuttgart, Germany

Timothy Moore II, Woodstock, Ga.

Lanson Hoopai, Aiea, Hawaii

Charles Baines, Meridian, Idaho

Athena Saldanha, Schaumberg, Ill.

Rebecca Frazer, Morgantown, Ind.

Erica Grubbs, Davenport, Iowa

Lydia Gibson, Topeka, Kan.

Zachary Frederich, Pineville, Ky.

Justin Magrath, Mandeville, La.

Rebecca Richards, East Winthrop, Maine

Logan Jackonis, Darnestown, Md.

Joshua Wolfsun, Amherst, Mass.

Aaron Mukerjee, Saline, Mich.

John Donaldson IV, Eden Prairie, Minn.

Milton Hickson, Pascagoula, Miss.

David Rogers, Warrensburg, Mo.

Mark Schmutzler, Clancy, Mont.

Alex Whitney, Minden, Neb.

Jake Bayliss, Carson City, Nev.

Patrick Doolittle, Hampstead, N.H.

Raina Searles, Hainesport, N.J.

Benjamin Davis, Springer, N.M.

Caitlin Kennedy, Dix Hills, N.Y.

Jonathan Elliot, Jr., Linden, N.C.

Anjali Lall, Fargo, N.D.

Caroline McKenzie, Wilmington, Ohio

Shawnie Marvin, Chelsea, Okla.

Jessica Glaser, Scio, Ore.

Christopher Anderson, Spring City, Penn.

Carlos Melendez-Garcia, Villalba, Puerto Rico

Rachel Moyer, Wakefield, R.I.

Brittany Cleveland, Sisseton, S.D.

Nicholas Lotz, Franklin, Tenn.

John Brown, Graham, Texas

Taylor Greenwell, Kaysville, Utah

Emilee Trudo, Vergennes, Vt.

Ryan McDonald, Chesapeake, Va.

Sidney Reynolds, Pullman, Wash.

Anthony Braxton, South Charleston, W. Va.

Emily Wilson, Appleton, Wis.

Dakota Frederick, Guernsey, Wyo.

View the 2012 contest pairings here. And look back at past Oratorical national winners by visiting www.legion.org/oratorical/champions.