THE AMERICAN LEGION

Department of California

District 18

Students from local high schools throughout the country are currently involved in the 75^th annual American Legion National High School Oratorical Scholarship Contest which involves a prepared oration of eight to ten minutes in length about some phase of the Constitution of the United States and a dissertation of three to five minutes on a related subject from the Constitutional Amendments.  District 18 covers the entire San Gabriel Valley, and at the recent District 18 speak off at Pasadena Post 13, the winner was Christopher Cruz, sponsored by Charles P. Rowe Post 30 in Pomona.  Runners-up were Andrew Dang sponsored by Arcadia Post 247 and Matthew Cina sponsored by East Pasadena Post 280.

As the winner, Christopher Cruz, student at Upland High School then proceeded to the Area 6 speak off to represent the District.  The 6^th Area covers the counties of Los Angeles and Ventura and part of San Luis Obispo County.  The speak off took place at the same American Legion Post, and Christopher then advances  to the Department of California finals at Pacifica  Community Center, Pacifica, California, on February 24^th.   Pictured (L to R) are Christopher Cruz and the two runner-ups, Peter St. John of Calabasas and Gabriel Oman of Orcutt.