The Hilton Stone American Legion Post 279 conducted their 2017 Oratorical Contest, Thursday, January 5, 2017, at the Senior Citizens Center in Woodbury. Colonel (Ret) John Basinger is the Project Director for the Oratorical Contest. Col. John Basinger works very closely with Mr. William F. (Freddy) Curtis, History teacher, at the Cannon County High School. Col. Basinger and Mr. William F. Curtis do an outstanding job working with the students, encouraging them to compete, and coaching them in the proper speech techniques. This Oratorical Contest gives the high school students, under the age of 20, and in some cases Eighth Grade students, a chance to compete with their oratorical skills on the subject of the United States Constitution. The students have to make two speeches. The first one is on a subject of their choosing on the Constitution which has to be a minimum of 8 minutes and no more than 10 minutes in duration. The second speech is on an assigned topic , drawn from a hat containing 4 different subjects; for example four different Amendments to the Constitution. The second speech has to be a minimum of 3 minutes and no more than 5 minutes. The contestants for the 2017 contest were Sam Nokes , a Senior; and Ashton Gilley a Freshman. This is Sam’s last year, but we hope to see Ashton for the next three years. The four judges placed Sam Nokes in First Place, receiving a Check for $100.00. The Second Place winner was Ashton Gilley, receiving a check for $75.00. Both students will continue their competition as they go to District Level Competition next. If they win a District Level they will continue to State Level Competition, and if they win there they go to National Level Competition. If the students win at State and National Levels they receive Scholarships from $1500.00 to $18000.00. Each winner was presented a check by David J. Faulkner, Commander, American Legion Post 279. Commander Faulkner expressed his sincere gratitude to Sam and Ashton for stepping forward and competing in the oratorical contest. Commander Faulkner and Col. John Basinger are working on a new program for 2018. This new program will include Junior High Students at the local level. This will give the Junior High Students more time to hone their skills in speaking. Then, when they get to High School they will be better prepared to compete at local, District, State, and National Levels. The goal of Post 279 is to see a student from Cannon County go all the way and bring home the National Trophy and that $18000.00 Scholarship. Our hats are off to Sam and Ashton for the great job they did, and we wish them the best as they continue their competition up the ladder. GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS.