Courtney Barthelemy Winner of American Legion Oratorical Contest

First place winner Courtney Barthelemy, South Plaquemines High School, and Superintendent Eva Jones	Courtney gives her speech at the January 14 Board Meeting	Cameron Plumer of South Plaquemines High School placed first in the junior high competition
Oratorical Contestants were honored at the School Board Meeting on Jan. 14th.  L – R Commander James Comeaux, Courtney Barthelemy, Joshua Woolsey, Maegen Ziegler, Joannessa Gordon, Supt. Eva G. Jones, and Wheeler Lalonde. Absent were Cameron Plumer and Denzel Miller. Courtney Barthelemy of South Plaquemines High School placed first in the local American Legion Oratorical Contest, held December 5, 2007, at the Woodland School Board Office.  Her winning speech was entitled “Choices.”  This is Courtney’s first time to place first in the Plaquemines Parish Oratorical Contest, though she has participated throughout her high school career.  She will compete at the regional competition this month.    Other high school participants in the contest were Maegen Ziegler of Belle Chasse High School and Joannessa Gordon of Phoenix High School.   Contestants prepared for weeks and months ahead for the competition which included, in addition to the eight to ten minute prepared oration, a three to five minute impromptu speech on one of the articles or amendments to the constitution.  The purpose of the prestigious American Legion Oratorical Contest is to instill in students a reverence and respect for our country’s foundational document, the Constitution. John Carlton and Dan Leonard, former Commanders of American Legion Post 329 in Belle Chasse represented the American Legion at the contest.    In the junior high competition that is held to prepare students for the high school competition, three students also participated.  Cameron Plumer of South Plaquemines High School placed first in the junior high competition.  Denzel Miller of Phoenix High School and Joshua Woolsey of Belle Chasse Middle School were the other participants.   Coaches for the students include Elaine Cox of South Plaquemines High School, Bonny Galloway of Belle Chasse High School, Lee Esther Cornin of Phoenix High School and Zana Curley of Belle Chasse Middle School.