Albion student repeats as county champ of Legion oratorical contest
Photos courtesy of Sue Starkweather Miller: The contestants in the oratorical contest on Saturday include, sitting, from left: Molly Wadhams (Albion), Melissa Barnosky (Albion), Noah Rath (Kendall), Olivia Reed (Kendall) and Destiny Jones (Medina). Standing include American Legion members: Gary Befus (Adjutant for Albion), Glenn Whitmore (Medina Commander), Brandon Nunnnery (Lyndonville), Wally Skrypnik (Albion Commander), Joe Hausler (Lyndonville Vice-Commander/Adjutant), Steve Johnson (Orleans County Commander), Fred Heschke (Medina, former board member), Chuck Eberhardt (Holley - past commander), Orleans County Oratorical Coordinator Larry Montello (Lyndonville).
MEDINA – Five students competed Saturday in Orleans County’s 82nd annual oratorical contest through the American Legion. Melissa Barnoksy of Albion repeated as winner of the event at Medina High School.
Students presented an 8 to 10 minute prepared oration on a US Constitution topic of their choosing with emphasis on citizen obligations to government.
“You are all winners because you took the time to learn about the Constitution,” said Master of Ceremonies Chuck Eberhardt.
Melissa Barnosky (Albion), left, and Olivia Reed (Kendall) were the top two finishers in Saturday’s competition. In back are Wally Skrypnik (Albion Commander), Chuck Eberhardt (Holley – past commander) and Orleans County Oratorical Coordinator Larry Montello (Lyndonville).
Barnosky was 1st followed by two Kendall students, Olivia Reed in 2nd and Noah Rath in 3rd.
Contest judges were Lynne Johnson, Eileen Banker, Bruce Schmidt, Donna Fisher and Brandon Nunnnery.
Barnosky and Reed move on to the District level contest to be held in Kenmore on Jan. 13 at 1 p.m.
Barnosky in March won the state title and competed at the national competition in Indianapolis. Barnosky won the school, county, district and zone competitions and earned a $6,000 scholarship when she won the state competition.
