Mountain Home High School student earns American Legion title

Oam Patel...a Junior at Mountain Home High School won the 2020 Idaho State American Legion Oratorical Contest. He earned a $2,000 scholarship and an expenses paid trip to the National Contest in April at Indianapolis. The 2020 Oratorical State Contest was held at The Meridian City Hall February 22nd. Hosted by Post 113. Shown are contestants. Isaac Harrison,(3rd place), Sarah Cole, (2nd place), Oam Patel, (1st place), Evelyn Lopez, (4th place).

MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho -- Reflecting on his knowledge and appreciation of the U.S. Constitution, a Mountain Home High School student took home $150 in prize money during the American Legion's annual district-level oratorical speech contest, held at the Post 26 headquarters.

Oam Patel, a junior at Mountain Home High School, earned the right to represent Mountain Home and surrounding communities after taking top honor during this year's post-level competition on Jan. 25. He presented a prepared speech outlining his perspectives related to the nation's governing document. He then was required to provide additional comments related to the basic principles of the government under the Constitution.

Patel went on to compete at, and won, the State Oratorical Competition on Feb. 22 in Meridian. Patel will now go on to represent Idaho at the National Contest in Indianapolis in April. He earned a $2,000 scholarship and an expenses paid trip to the competition.

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