Laney Andrews, a sophomore at Beresford High School won a $2,000 scholarship on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, in Huron when she received first place at the State American Legion Oratory Contest.
Laney will represent South Dakota at the National American Legion Contest on April 21-23 in Indianapolis.
This is the 85th year that the contest has taken place. Students write and memorize a 10-minute speech about the Constitution. No prompting or notes are allowed. In addition, contestants must be prepared to give another 3–5-minute speech on one of four assigned topics, randomly drawn at the contest. This year the four prepared topics included the 6th, 10th, 14th or 16th Amendments to the Constitution. As students are not allowed any notes in the prep room, and the speech must be given from memory, it requires all contestants to prepare and memorize four speeches in addition to the Oration.
Laney represented the Beresford American Legion Post #72 and District 7 which includes Lake, Lincoln, McCook, Minnehaha, Moody, and Union counties.
