They say it has been at least 15 years since Harvey T. Rimel Post 141 sponsored a contestant to compete at Legion Oratorical Contest! A Senior from Glenwood High School, Miss Madeline Becker, sponsored by the Harvey T. Rimel Post 141 in Glenwood, earned second place at the State Oratorical Contest. She won $1500 scholarship by accomplishing this great feat! However, it was a long road to get there by winning several other qualifying contests.
Madeline Becker handily won the contest for Area III held at the Wilson Performing Arts center in Red Oak, IA, January 24, 2021 against 4 other competitors who had won their own District’s Oratorical Contests. Area III is comprised of 7th, 8th, and 9th Districts covering nearly 1/3 of the entire state. This win earned Madeline Becker her spot at State Finals to compete against the 2 other Area contest winners for a spot at Nationals.
Madeline qualified for Area III at the 7th District “Pioneers” Oratorical Contest also held at the Wilson Performing Arts Center January 3, 2021. She competed against 4 contestants sponsored by other Post throughout Western Iowa and brought the “W” back to Glenwood at District Finals.
At each level of the Oratorical Contest, each contestant delivers a prepared oration 8-10 minutes in length as well as an oration on a randomly assigned Constitutional topic 3-5 minutes in length. At every level, Madeline Becker impressed the judges with a speech titled Education as a Civic Duty and her dedication to this contest was unwavering and brings great credit to her, her family, family and teachers in Glenwood and a proud Post with over 170 members.
Though it is never advertised, she has won prize money and gifts from Post 141 that we hope will be presented at Senior Awards. 7th District’s award is $300.00, which will be presented at the Annual Legion Family Membership Appreciation Dinner on Saturday, March 20, 2021.
Since 1938, The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program has encouraged the nation’s high school students to study the U.S. Constitution and to hone their public speaking skills. Madeline shows passion for the ideals that founded our Country and that shined through in all of her orations. For more information on this yearly contest, please visit http://www.legion.org/oratorical and ensure someone at the Glenwood Legion knows you are interested!
Contestants with Department Commander Jim Kessler at the Area III Contest in Red Oak, IA.