Essay winners present speeches

Submitted by Arlene Lolley

The American Legion Auxiliary Americanism Essay contest winners were 11th-grader Nina Herras and 10th-grader Halee Yarbough.

Halee and Nina, from the Lake County Baptist School and sponsored by the Zion Benton Unit 865, presented their speeches at the 10th District meeting hosted by the Highland Park Unit President Barb Ziegenweide March 28.

After hearing them speak, it was clear that a lot of thought and preparation went into their speeches on “What the First Amendment Means to Me.” The program was directed by the 10th District Chairman Dana Phelps.

The first-place winners in each class were awarded their prizes and all first-place winners were forwarded to the Department of Illinois competition. Nina is the daughter of Tobie and Marisa Herras and Halee is the daughter of Latorre and Tynisha Gardner.

The full list of winners is:

Class I (grades 7-8):

Ÿ First place: Aidan Dolan

Ÿ Second place: Jack Foster

Ÿ Third place: Emma Daleske

Class II (grades 9-10)

Ÿ First place: Halee Yarbough

Ÿ Second place: Daniella Cohen

Ÿ Third place: Daniel Black

Class III (grades 11-12)

Ÿ First place: Nina Herras

Ÿ Second place: Melissa Meedham

Ÿ Third place: Alex Yoursif

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