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  • Monday, March 04, 2019

    Melissa Barnosky Is 2019 State Oratorical Champ

    Oratorical Champion Melissa Barnosky, center, with Department Commander Gary Schacher and Oratorical Chairman Anthony Paternostro.

    Department Commander Gary M. Schacher presents certificate to Oratorical Champion Melissa Barnosky, with Department Oratorical Chairman Anthony L. Paternostro looking on. Photos by Frank Carletta.

    More Photos: Oratorical Dinner and Contest

    ALBANY —Melissa Barnosky, a senior at Albion Central School in Albion, New York, is The American Legion New York State Oratorical Champion for 2019, Oratorical Chairman Anthony Paternostro announced.

    This is the second year in a row that Melissa has won the title.  Melissa competed against four other finalists from a cross section of the state in the 82nd Annual American Legion Department of New York Oratorical Contest.

    Melissa won a $6,000 scholarship and will represent New York in the National Oratorical Contest in Indianapolis, IN in April.

    She was sponsored by the Sheret Post 35, Orleans County, 8th District, and Zone 5. The “Constitutional Speech Contest” took place March 2 at Sand Creek Middle School in Colonie, New York.

    Oratorical finalists

    Oratorial Contest finalists (from left): David Bruen, 9th District, Zone 1, Rockland County; Lea Pohalski, 10th District, Zone 2, Suffolk County; Aiden Boehm, 3rd District, Zone 3, Green County; Melissa Barnosky, 8th District, Zone 5, Orleans County; Victor Gelfuso, 6th District, Zone 4, Otsego County.

    The other finalists are:

    — Lea Pohalski, a junior at St. Pius V School, was awarded a $4,000 scholarship. Lea was sponsored by the Green Lawn Post 1244 of Suffolk County, 10th District, and Zone 2.

    — David Bruen, a senior at Clarkstown South High School, was awarded a $2,500 scholarship. David was sponsored by the William E. DeBevoise, Jr. Post 1682 of Rockland County, 9th District, and Zone 1.

    Rounding out the awards are:

    — Aiden Boehm, a junior at Coxsackie-Athens High School, was awarded a $2,000 scholarship. Aiden was sponsored by the Coxsackie Post 166 and Cairo Mohican Post 983 of Green County, 3rd District, and Zone 3.

    — Victor Gelfuso, a junior at Richfield Springs Central School, was awarded a $2,000 scholarship. Victor was sponsored by the Hugick-Purcell-Shepard Post 616 of Otsego County, 6th District, and Zone 4.