Kendall's Advanced Placement U.S. History Teacher John King with his students who participated in the American Legion Oratorical Contest: (l-r) juniors Amanda Klafehn, Ryan Mitchell, Jamie Gregory, Josh Grolling and Katie Christopher.

Kendall juniors compete in oratorical contest

Five Kendall juniors really know what they are talking about when it comes to the U.S. Constitution. They wrote speeches from eight to 10 minutes long about an aspect of the Constitution, then spoke before representatives from the Jewell Buckman American Legion Post 529 in Holley. Students were judged on content, originality, application of their knowledge of the topic, skill in selecting examples, logic, comprehensiveness of knowledge and speaking skills. Based on their scores, Jamie Gregory placed first, Josh Grolling second and Amanda Klafehn third. Also participating were Katie Christopher and Ryan Mitchell. Gregory received $100, Grolling $75, and Klafehn $50. Gregory and Grolling will represent Kendall in the Orleans County Oratorical Contest at Albion High School on December 9, and Klafehn will serve as an alternate. Gregory will speak about the First, Fourth and Sixth Amendments because she said they are the most interesting and controversial to her. And Grolling will speak about the First and Second Amendments because "they gave us our natural-born rights and protect us as citizens."

December 3, 2006