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• Sunday, March 14, 2021

  Ian Chung Is 2021 State Oratorical Champ

  

  FROM LEFT: State Champion Ian Chung with the four other finalists, Riley Meckley, Abigail Christopher, Rachel Yorke and Maya Segal.

  ALBANY — Ian Chung, a freshman at Vestal Senior High School in Vestal, is The American Legion New York State Oratorical Champion for 2021, Oratorical Chairman Anthony Paternostro announced.

  This year’s contest was conducted on March 6 at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center, Albany.

  All COVID-19 protocols were followed, Paternostro said.

  Even though attendance was small because of the restrictions, those present witnessed “five magnificent orators.”

  “We did not want to cancel the competition after all the hard work these orators have done all year to get to this point.”

  State Champion Ian Chung competed against four other finalists from a cross section of the state in the 84th Annual American Legion Department of New York Oratorical Contest. He was sponsored by the American Legion North-East Post 1645, Broome County, 6th District, Zone 4.

  Other finalists were:

  • Abigail Christopher, Monroe County, 7th District, Zone 5, sponsored by Hiscock-Fishbough Post 788;

  • Riley Meckley, Suffolk County, 10th District, Zone 2, sponsored by Wilson Ritch Post 432;

  • Rachel Yorke, Schoharie County, District 3, Zone 3, sponsored by Sharon Springs Post 1269;

  • Maya Segal, Dutchess  County, District 9, Zone 1, sponsored by Lafayette Post 37.