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Schaumburg teen wins Constitution contest

Conant High School junior Athena Saldanha of Schaumburg carries a full load of honors classes and is nearly as busy after school with activities.

But along the way, she discovered she has a penchant for something most people hate: giving speeches.

“I like the thrill of being onstage,” Saldanha says, “and of sharing your own thoughts and position.”

Over four years, Saldanha has won contests sponsored by the Des Plaines Optimist Oratorical Club and the VFW, as well as taking second at an Illinois High School Association speech team regional in January for original oratory.

Earlier this month, Saldanha won her latest title: She is the Illinois state champion of the American Legion Oratorical Scholarship Program.

Inside the Peoria Civic Center, Saldanha delivered a 10-minute original oration before being asked to speak about one of the Constitutional amendments.

Her chosen topic centered around the values of the U.S. Constitution. Then she had to defend the 26th Amendment — voting for 18-year-olds — in the preliminaries and discuss the 10th Amendment — state powers — in the finals.

“As an immigrant and not being from America, it was really an honor,” she says. “I didn't know much about it before, but after reading about it, I found it really interesting.”

Saldanha now advances to the national competition in April in Indianapolis, where she again will deliver her original speech on the Constitution before being assigned any of four Amendments to describe in a speech.

At stake is an $18,000 scholarship, which she would put toward college, she says.

Turning young people on to the nuances written into the Constitution has driven the American Legion's oratorical competition for more than 70 years.

“This kind of a contest really makes young people more aware of the Constitution,” says Gary Jenson, assistant adjutant for the Illinois Department of the American Legion. “They learn to defend the Constitution and to think on their feet.”

Saldanha, who was born in Dubai, came to this country at 6 months old. Her parents are natives of the southern part of India near Mangalore, and they remain active with Mangalorean people living in this country. But they are very proud of their daughter.

“Already, she has accomplished so much,” says her father, James Saldanha, who works as an accountant in the travel industry.

Saldanha plans to one day attend law school, and on weekends is interning in the law offices of Guthrie & Brady in Schaumburg.

“I really want to make some sort of impact on the world,” she says, “to share my thoughts and defend people who can't defend themselves.”