SAN ANTONO – (Jan. 11, 2025) – Six local high school students participated in an oratorical contest held under the American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program hosted by the 20th District, Department of Texas, at St. Mary’s University School of Law.
The Oratorical program in Texas began in November 2024 when high school students entered the competition to qualify for the National Oratorical Program, with an ultimate award of $203,500 in scholarships.
Each contestant delivered a prepared oration as well as an oration on the 7th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States: The Right to Jury Trial in Civil Affairs.
Sophia Logsdon, a senior attending Reagan High School, was awarded first place and Joshua Philip, a junior attending Health Careers High School, was runner-up.
“This was my third year participating in the oratorical contest, and my second year winning at the district level,” said Logsdon, who participates in Reagan’s ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering) Mentor Program. “I'd never taken a debate or speech class, but I knew I could write. So I pored over the Constitution, U.S. history, Supreme Court cases, YouTube videos and legal definitions, wrote and rewrote what I was going to say, and made my poor family listen to my speeches repeatedly.”
Logsdon will advance to compete at the division level within the next few weeks against winners of other district contests held within the Department of Texas.
According to 20th District Commander Eric Mayer of Business and Professional Post 10, the idea of hosting the district contest at St. Mary’s came from Past District Commander Danny Muth, the current department vice commander (3rd Division).
“He asked why we are not partnering with them in regard to the District Oratorical Contest, which is all about the Constitution of the United States, and I said, wow, that’s a fantastic idea,” said Mayer, who served as the district Americanism chairman under Muth. “At the point, I wrote the dean of the law school, who honored our request to be here in this magnificent facility where each of our six talented and outstanding young men and women can envision themselves at the next level.”
The district is very grateful to St. Mary’s School of Law and to the District Americanism chairman, Legionnaire Michael Knott of Alamo Post 2, said Mayer.
