Contestants delivered a prepared oration about some phase of the Constitution of the United States, as well as an oration on a randomly assigned constitutional topic, during the 2020 District 3 American Legion Oratorical Contest finals.
Kiran Kumaranayakam, sponsored by American Legion Post 65 in Metuchen, a senior at Edison High School, representing Middlesex County, was the district winner on Feb. 29 at the Woodbridge Municipal Building.
The district covers Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset and Monmouth counties. She will now compete in the state contest on March 18 at the Hightstown American Legion Post at 10 a.m., vying for up to $4,000 in scholarship funds, according to information provided by the American Legion Middlesex County Executive Committee.
The purpose of The American Legion High School Oratorical Contest is to develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States on the part of all high school students. Objectives of the contest include the development of leadership qualities, thinking and speaking clearly, and preparation for accepting the duties and responsibilities of American citizenship. Students begin competition at the post level and progress through county, district, regional and state competitions, according to the statement.