Pictured above is Laney Andrews, winner of the District 7 American Legion Oratory Contest held on Jan. 15 in Humboldt, South Dakota. Pictured with Laney is the Chair of the contest and Americanism Officer, Linda Liddell of Madison.
Laney Andrews, a sophomore at Beresford High School, won the American Legion Oratory Contest for District 7 and will now advance to State Finals to be held in Huron on Feb. 12, 2023, in conjunction with the 2023 Mid-Winter American Legion Conference.
There are 8 American Legion Districts in SD. Each District sends its winner to the state contest, and students compete for the right to represent South Dakota at the National Contest held in Indianapolis, IN, April 21-23, 2023. Laney received an American Legion medal and a $250 check for winning the District 7 Contest.
The American Legion has sponsored this contest for 86 years to instill a better knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United State among high school students. Participating students must write and memorize an 8-10 minute oration on some phase of the Constitution. In addition to the prepared oration, each contestant must be prepared to speak extemporaneously (without notes) for 3-5 minutes about one of four Articles or Amendments of the US Constitution. For this year's contest, students needed to be prepared to discuss the 6th, 10th, 14th, and 16th Amendments to the Constitution.
Laney is coached by Beresford HS and MS speech, debate, and oral interp coach, Ann Tornberg.