MNHS Oratorical Scholarship Winner

The 2012-2013 finals of the American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program “A Constitutional Speech Contest” were held at the Forum Theater in Harrisburg, PA on Saturday, March 9, 2013.  Representing the local American Legion Marple Memorial Post 805 in Broomall, PA, as well as the 8^th District of the American Legion, Eastern Section was Dianna Dragonetti a senior from Marple Newtown High School.  Dianna competed against two other state finalists from the Central and Western Sections of PA.  To qualify for the state finals Dianna competed and won on the American Legion post, county, district, and inter-district levels before being eligible to attend the state finals.  This is the first time in the history of Marple Memorial Post 805 that a student from our local Marple Newtown High School competed and won at all levels of competition.

Each contestant delivered a prepared eight to ten minute oration, as well as a three to five minute oration     on a randomly assigned constitutional topic.  Dianna impressed the judges with a speech titled “The Nobel American’s Responsibilities.”  Dianna placed third in the state final competition, and received a four thousand dollar scholarship for college in addition to the scholarship monies she received for school from the post, county, district and section levels of competition.

Since 1938, The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program has encouraged the nation’s high school students to study the U.S. Constitution and to hone their public speaking skills.  Since its inception, the contest has awarded well over three million dollars in scholarships to the participants at the national level of competition.  The American Legion currently awards $138,000 annually to department winners competing at the national level.  Many thousands of dollars in scholarships were also awarded by Legionnaires at post, district, section and state levels.

Legionnaires of Marple Memorial Post 805 in Broomall, PA as well as the 8^th District Eastern Section would like to thank Dianna and all the other contestants for their outstanding presentations.  They would also like to thank the judges and other officials for their dedication to the contest.  We are proud of every boy and girl   that took the time to compete in this competition. 

For more information, please contact Larry Snyder, Commander at commander@legionpost805.org or visit  the Marple Memorial Post 805 web site at www.legionpost805.org .

Pictured left to right:  Larry Snyder, Commander, Marple Memorial Post 805, Jim Himes, Judge Advocate,     Patti Snyder, Finance Officer, Dianna Dragonetti, Marple Newtown High School Senior, Dr. Tina Sweeley, Marple Newtown High School Assistant Principal, Jerry Sweeley, 8^th District Commander.