Repeat performance: Jeswin Antony wins Vermont American Legion speech contest

March 10, 2023  |  By Karlene DeVine

Harwood Union High School Senior Jeswin Antony of Waterbury with Vermont American Legion Commander Tom Scanlon at the state oratorical competition in Montpelier on March 5. For the second year, Jeswin won first place. Courtesy photo

Another win for Harwood Union High School senior Jeswin Antony!

In his fourth year of competing in the American Legion’s Oratorical Competition, Jeswin took First Place at the Pavilion Auditorium in Montpelier on Sunday, March 5 and will go on to represent Vermont at the national competition in Indianapolis, April 21-23.

Expenses of the contestant and a chaperone are covered by the American Legion. 

In his prepared oration, “We, the Cyber Patriots,” Jeswin proposes a new Constitutional amendment to address the current state of unregulated content of social media and its impact on the mental health and security of the United States. 

The Prepared Oration portion of the annual competition requires an original 8-10 min. speech on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution.  The speech is delivered using no microphone, notes or a podium.

In the second event of the state competition, each of three contestants addressed the 6th Amendment as the randomly chosen assigned topic.  There are five tenets of the amendment that affect the rights of a defendant in a criminal prosecution including the right to a speedy trial, an impartial jury, and the right to an attorney.  The Assigned Topic speech is 3-5 min.  Both speeches must address the duties and obligations of a citizen to our government.

Vermont American Legion Commander Tom Scanlon with the state oratorical contestants at the recent state competition in Montpelier. Left to right: Seniors Hallie Laber of Irasburg and Jeswin Antony of Waterbury, and sophomore Megan Mentzer of Vergennes. Courtesy photo

First-time contestant Megan Mentzer, a sophomore at Vergennes Union High School supported by Vergennes American Legion Post 14, took second place. Her speech was titled, “The Role of the Supreme Court in America’s Everchanging Judicial Climate.” Megan received $750 for her effort and is eligible to return next year to compete.  

Senior Hallie Laber who is home-schooled in Irasburg entered the Oratorical contest through the Junior ROTC program at North Country Union High School. Her Prepared Orations topic was “He Alone Who Owns the Youth, Gains the Future.” Hallie garnered $500 for third place. Sponsored by Newport American Legion Post 21, she plans a career in law enforcement.

Vermont American Legion Commander Tom Scanlon presented Jeswin with a special coin engraved with the Pledge of Allegiance in honor of his first-place win. Sponsored by Harry N. Cutting Waterbury American Legion Post 59, Jeswin has several college applications out and hopes to pursue a science-based career track.

This will be Jeswin’s second trip to the national speech competition. In 2022 he was Vermont’s First Place winner and represented the state at the National Finals in Indianapolis along with 52 other high school students from each state as well as France, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

The First Place scholarship for Vermont is $1,500. The overall national contest winner gets a $25,000 scholarship; second receives $22,500; third place wins $20,000. Each state winner who is certified into and participates in the national contest’s first round receives a $2,000 scholarship. Those who advance past the first round receive an additional $2,000 scholarship. The American Legion’s National Organization awards the scholarships, which can be used at any college or university in the United States.

Karlene DeVine is the American Legion Oratorical Program Chair for the Vermont Department of the American Legion. Applications to participate in the 2023-24 program are now available to high school students in grades 9-12 next school year. More information is online at legion.org/oratorical. Contact DeVine at kdevine@myfairpoint.net.