Grayslake North High School Student Places 2d at State Oratorical Competition

Thomas Kilcullen, a junior from Grayslake North High School won second place in the American Legion Department of Illinois Oratorical Competition on Saturday, March 7, 2015, in Peoria. Thomas was sponsored by Grayslake American Legion Post # 659.

The Oratorical Contest is a two-part speech event. The orators diligently prepare for the contest by studying all aspects of the Constitution. For the first part of the event, they give (without benefit of notes), an eight to ten-minute speech on any aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with emphasis on privileges and duties of a citizen. The second part of the contest consists of a 3-5 minute speech on one of four possible topics: the contestants don't know which topic will be assigned until 5 minutes before they must give their speeches.

Thomas competed against 24 other students at the Illinois Department American Legion Contest, which included a single elimination round, which narrowed the field to 5 finalists, and then the final round. Said Kilcullen, "I want to thank the Legion for all their support; I have learned so much from this experience".

Scholarship prizes totaling over $13,000 were awarded: Thomas took home a $1500 college scholarship. Other finishers from Grayslake North included junior Ryan Zunker, who placed second in the semi-finals, and Grayslake North junior Hannah Manley, who placed third in the semi-finals. The State's winner advances to the National competition in Indianapolis in April, where the prize money escalates to a total $128,000 among the 50 contestants.