Seth Van Engelenhoven, Seward High Senior, was selected the winner at the Nebraska American Legion District 12 Oratorical Contest held recently on Sunday, November 04, 2018 at 2:00 pm at the Nebraska National Guard Museum in Seward. He was selected to represent District 12 at the Regional Contest also to be held in Seward on December 1, 2018 at 7:00 pm at the Seward Civic Center.  Bonnie Brewer of Elmwood, Nebraska, the District 12 Commander, welcomed the group on behalf of the District and Ken Meyer, of the Seward American Legion Post #33, the host for the contest, welcomed the visitors to the contest and the new Nebraska National Guard Museum. He offered to give tours of the museum following the contest to anyone interested.  Meyer led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance to the US Flag.

Seth was asked to prepare and write a prepared, eight to ten minute oration on some aspect of the US Constitution and then draw one of four US Constitution Amendments and then to speak extemporaneously for three to five minutes on the selected Amendment.  The Amendments selected for the contest were Amendments 1, 4, 13 and 21.  He drew Amendment 1 for the extemporaneous speech on the Freedoms-- “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for redress of grievances.”  

Judges for the event were Dr. Louis Reith, Bonnie Kruse, and Greg Holloway. Jon Kruse served as the timer for the contest and Dick Hans served as the Sargent of Arms and host for the contestants.  Mrs. Kelley Limback of Seward High, is Seth’s Speech teacher and was introduced by Seth and thanked publicly.  Jerry Meyer, Director of the Nebraska National Guard Museum coordinated the arrangements, assisted by Clark Kolterman, President of the Seward Arts Council.

Bonnie Brewer, District 12 Commander presented Seth with the District 12 Oratorical Gold medal and a $100 cash scholarship from the Nebraska American Legion District 12.  He will now represent District 12 at their Regional contest held in Seward at the Seward Civic Center at 7:00 pm and again be asked to present a ten minute oration on some aspect of the US Constitution and one of the same four Amendments to be drawn that evening.  There are five Districts competing at the Regional Level.  The winner from the Regional level will advance to the State Contest in January.  Seth is officially sponsored by the Seward American Legion Post #33.