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Jacob Steponaitis Takes Top VUHS Legion Oratory Spot District And State Programs To Follow In Vergennes

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Tuesday February 2, 2010

   On Thursday, Jan. 28, Jacob Steponaitis, a Vergennes Union High School senior, won top honors in the local oratorical program held at American Legion Post 14 in Vergennes. He is the son of Roberta Steponaitis of Waltham. Steponaitis won a $100.00 Post 14 scholarship that was formally presented by Post 14 Commander Larney McGrath immediately upon conclusion of the competition. Post member Karlene DeVine of Ferrisburgh serves as the Chairperson of the local program and is also responsible as Chairperson of the District 1 and the Vermont State Oratorical Contests this year.  As she has done for many years, VUHS teacher, Cookie Steponaitis has mentored all the students participating from Vergennes UHS.

    This marks the 72nd year of awarding scholarships in the American Legion National High School Oratorical Program.  This program was initiated in 1938 to develop a deeper knowledge and understanding among high school students of the Constitution of the United States. Participants research and prepare an 8 to 10 minute oration on an assigned topic related to the Constitution and the responsibilities of citizenship that they deliver without notes before a panel of judges.  They follow up with a 3 to 5 minute speech on one assigned topic which is randomly selected from 4 possible amendments drawn from a hat and for which they have only a few minutes to collect their thoughts.

    Commenting on this year’s competition, DeVine remarked, of the 23 high schools represented since 1952 in this contest, VUHS students have won the State finals 6 times second only to Brattleboro whose students have placed 8 times.  It is a challenging and rigorous competition.  From this contest, come the next generation’s leaders.  

    In addition to giving students a greater understanding of the Constitution and the duties and responsibilities of American citizenship, the purpose of the program is to assist students in paying the high cost of a college education.  On the National level, the Legion awards $138,000 annually.  The first place winner in the National Contest takes home $18,000 and the next two finishers receive $16,000 and $14,000, respectively. Each Department (State) winner who participates in the first round of the National contest receives a $1,500 scholarship.  A second scholarship, in the same amount, awaits each first round winner who advances to and participates in the second round, but does not advance to the final round.

    Jacob Steponaitis advances to the District 1 (Addison, Chittenden, & Franklin County) competition on Feb. 6. District winners from throughout Vermont will compete in the Department (State) finals on Feb. 27, District and Department finals will be held at Post 14 in Vergennes, beginning at 10:00 AM each day. Members of the public are cordially invited to attend. A scholarship of $2000.00 is awarded at the Department level competition. The National Finals will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana on April 9 – 11.  Last year, Department of Vermont winner Caroline Heydinger, a Brattleboro Union High School student, placed 2nd in the National competition garnering a $16,000.00 scholarship

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