A Monroe Township High School junior has repeated as the winner of the Middlesex County American Legion Oratorical Contest.
The finals for the 2018 contest were held on Jan. 27 at American Legion Post 324 in Edison. Each contestant delivered a prepared oration about some phase of the U.S. Constitution, as well as an oration on a randomly assigned constitutional topic, according to information provided by the county Legion.
Ria Patel, sponsored by American Legion Post 522 in Monroe, will compete in the regional contest for the second year in a row on Feb. 24 at the Woodbridge Municipal Building.
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, according to the statement. Students begin competition at the Post level and progress through county, district, regional and state competitions.
Pictured are Nick Ferrarotto, Post 522 commander, left to right; Ria Patel; Mike Stolte, county Oratorical Contest chair; and Gary Cooper, Middlesex County American Legion commander.