GNHS Student Wins First Place at American Legion Speech Competition

A Grayslake North High School student won first place in the 10th District American Legion speech competition held Jan. 11 at Grayslake Central.

Rachel Menhart, who was sponsored by Grayslake American Legion Post No. 659, will now compete with 29 other students in the Illinois Department American Legion Contest March 1 in Peoria.

Students at the 10th District competition participated in a two-part Oratorical Contest. After studying all aspects of the Constitution, the students had to give an eight- to 10-minute speech on any part of the Constitution, with the focus being on the privileges and duties of a citizen. Then, the competitors had to give a three- to five-minute speech on a topic that was't announced until five minutes before they had to give the speech.

The topic for Jan. 11 was the First Amendment.

Judges for the event were Lake County Circuit Court Judge Luis Berrones, Lake County States Attorney Michael Nerheim, Assistant State's Attorneys Jeff Paulitic and Rod Drobinski, and former Wauconda School Supt. John Barbini.

Eric Gier from Wauconda took second place at the competition.

At the Illinois Department American Legion Contest March 1, more than $13,000 in prizes will be awarded. The winner at the state contest will advance to the national competition in April, where $128,000 in prizes will be distributed.


Photo information: From left to right—Ron Carlson, past 10th District commander; former Wauconda Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Barbini; Assistant State's Attorneys Jeff Paulitic and Rod Drobinski; Rachel Menhart; Eric Gier; Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim; and William Geary, 10th District Americanism chairman.