OXFORD – Despite a compelling speech on the separation of church and state, Chenango County’s representative will not be advancing forward to the next level of competition in the American Legion’s 72nd Annual High School Oratorical Contest.
Greene High School Senior Emily Hermanovitch, who took top honors at the Chenango County level competition on Nov. 30, faced stiff competition on Saturday when she was matched up against other county winners from the American Legion’s 6th District.
The event, which took place in the Performing Arts Auditorium at Oxford High School, included students from Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Madison, Schuyler and Otsego counties.
“It was a very difficult competition to judge, which the judges will attest to,” said 6th District Oratorical Chairperson Ken Sedgwick.
The competition ultimately ended in a tie between Schuyler County champ Joshua Hinterberger of Watkins Glen and the representative from Delaware County, Brenden Gregory of Walton. Both young orators received a $250 savings bond and will advance to the Zone 4 level of the competition, to be held in February at Mohawk High School.
Hinterberger, who is home schooled, delivered an oration titled “Self Government’s Foundation” while Gregory spoke of the 14th Amendment in his speech, “The Heart of Equality.”
“It’s great to be recognized,” said Gregory, who said preparing for the contest required months of preparation and a great deal of effort.
He and Hinterberger said they are looking forward to advancing to the next level in the contest, but know they will face even stiffer competition in Mohawk.
“The competition will be fast, furious and absolutely fun,” said Hinterberger.
Gideon Powers of Milford, who addressed the controversial topic of gun control in his oration, was selected as first runner-up. He received a $200 savings bond, and will represent the 6th District in Mohawk if either Hinterberger or Gregory is unable to compete.
While Hermanovitch was clearly disappointed not to have won the competition, she said it was an accomplishment in and of itself to have made it to the district level.
She and the final two competitors, Jenna March of Munnsville and Nicholas Rand from Broome County, each received $100 savings bonds for participating in Saturday’s competition. All six participants will receive certificates of recognition from the 6th District.
The American Legion Oratorical Contest is designed to encourage students to learn about the United States Constitution and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Competition begins on the local level, with winners advancing to progressively higher levels, accumulating scholarship money along the way. National finals are held in April.
At each level of the competition, participants demonstrate their knowledge of the United States Constitution in first an 8 to 10 minute prepared oration and then an additional three minute unprepared discussion on an assigned topic. The students are not allowed to use any notes, podium or sound equipment at any level of the competition, said Sedgwick.
While the orators can refine their delivery as they advance, they must use the same prepared speech at each level of competitions, added Unadilla Post Commander Ray Johnson.
“It certainly is humbling to sit here ... you have a lot of courage and a lot of talent,” said Francis Wilcox of Oxford, one of the competition’s three judges, as he addressed the contestants.