VFW Oratorical Competition

Students in the 4-H Club participated in the Post 30 American Legion Oratorical. Matthew Smith came in 1st place and won a $500 scholarship, with Sophia Jones a very close second. Matthew will go on to compete against students from Lincoln Charter next week. If he wins that round, he will go on to compete in the district competition that will be held in Sylva, NC. The American Legion’s National Oratorical Contest has helped youth deepen their understanding of the Constitution, develop leadership, and earn scholarships through public speaking. The 2026 National Finals will be held May 15–17 at Hillsdale College.