A Monroe High School junior is moving onto the state finals of the 2018 Third District American Legion High School Oratorical Contest.
Ria Patel, sponsored by American Legion Post 522 in Monroe, delivered a prepared oration about a phase of the Constitution and an oration on a randomly assigned constitutional topic during finals at the Woodbridge Municipal Building on Feb. 24.
As the district winner, Ria will now compete in the state finals at the Trenton War Memorial on March 31. She placed second last year.
Pictured are Bob Miller, Hunterdon County American Legion Commander, left to right; Lia Formica, second place winner from North Hunterdon Voorhees High School; first place winner Ria Patel of Monroe; and Gary Cooper, Middlesex County American Legion commander.