Area student wins state American Legion oratorical Contest

By Staff
special to The Star
March 5, 2004
Beth Alexander, a 15-year-old home-schooled student from Little Rock, has won the state American Legion Oratorical Contest and will represent Mississippi at a national competition in Indianapolis next month.
The scholarship contest focuses on the U.S. Constitution and the duties and obligations of a citizen. Alexander advanced through the local American Legion Post competition, District 5 and Central Area Department competition before reaching the state finals held last Saturday at the War Memorial Auditorium in Jackson
At each level she was awarded varying scholarships totaling $1,700, plus a Merit Scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi as the state winner.
As the winner of the state finals she will represent Mississippi, all expenses paid, at the national competition in Indianapolis April 3-5. She will also automatically receive $1,500 as an additional scholarship for participating in the first rounds in Indianapolis. The top three winners at national will receive $18,000, $16,000, and $14,000 scholarships.
Alexander is the daughter of George and Cindy Alexander and a sophomore home-schooled student. She has won other public speaking contests, including the Mississippi State Fair Public Speaking Contest and the state 4-H Public Speaking and Visual Presentation Contests held on the campus of Mississippi State University.
Alexander hopes to pursue a career in some field of communication, such as broadcast journalism or public relations.
The American Legion Oratorical Contest is open to all high school students. Information on next year's competition may be obtained by contacting your local American Legion Post or going to www.legion.org.
Groups interested in having Alexander present her speech and discuss the contest may contact her at 774-5429. She was sponsored by the Newton County American Legion, Post 89, where Bill Hand serves as Post Commander.