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• Tuesday, March 08, 2016

  Melissa Woodford Is State Oratorical Champ

  

  Oratorical Champ Melissa Woodford with Department Commander James Yermas. Photos by Doug Malin.

  ALBANY — Melissa Woodford, a home-schooled senior from New City, NY, is The American Legion’s New York State oratorical champion for 2016, Oratorical Chairman Anthony Paternostro announced.

  Melissa competed against four other finalists from a cross section of the state in the 79th Annual American Legion Department of New York Oratorical Contest. She won a $6,000 scholarship and will represent New York in the National Oratorical Contest in Indianapolis, IN in April.

  Melisssa was sponsored by Moscarella Post 199 (Rockland County, 9th District). The “Constitutional Speech Contest” took place March 5 at Sand Creek Middle School in Colonie.

  

  (left to right) Department of New York Commander James Yermas, Nicholas Honor,Oratorical Champion Melissa Woodford, Meredith Patterson, Joseph Giulian, Dylan Kernehan, Department of New York Auxiliary President Janet Mahoney, and Detachment of New York Sons of the American Legion Commander Joseph Santacroce.

  The other finalists are:

  — Nicholas Honor, a junior at St. Pius V School in Melville, who won a $4,000 scholarship. Nicholas was sponsored by the Greenlawn Post 1244 of Suffolk County, 10th District.

  — Joseph Giulian, a senior at Taconic Hills High School in Columbia, who received a $2,500 scholarship. Joseph was sponsored by Copake Falls Post 1160 & Philmont Post 252 of Columbia County, 3rd District.

  — Meredith Patterson, a senior at Charles D’Amico High School, who was awarded a $2,000 scholarship. Meredith was sponsored by Sheret Post 35 of Orleans County, 8th District.

  — Dylan Kernehan, a senior at Alexandria Bay Central School who won a $2,000 scholarship. Dylan was sponsored by John B. Lyman Post 904 of Jefferson County, 5th District.