Topher Pagliarella '08 Places Third in Oratorical Competition

Student Council President Topher Pagliarella '08 recently competed in The American Legion’s annual Oratorical Competition on the Constitution, placing 3rd in the nation. Contests are held on the local, district, state, and national level. The competition involves an 8-10 minute speech on some aspect of the Constitution, and a follow-up 3-5 speech on one particular article or amendment of the Constitution drawn randomly.

This was Topher’s third year in the contest. After passing through the local level without competition, he won the 2nd district competition and advanced to the state competition in early March. He won his semifinal against three other students and then his final competition against one more, netting first place in the state and $2,500 in bonds.

On April 4-6, 2008 Topher went to the national competition in Indianapolis. All 50 states competed, as well as Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and France. (Mexico was invited, but did not send a student.)

Topher won his quarterfinal competition against students from Ohio, Michigan, Virginia, Maine, and Kentucky. He then advanced to the semifinals to face the winners of Florida and Washington D.C. who had also won their quarterfinals. After winning his semifinal, Topher advanced to the final competition against Maryland and Arkansas. Unfortunately, that is where he was bested; he left with third place in the competition and $15,500 in prize money altogether.

Of the competition, Topher said, “Altogether, it was a wonderful experience and I was deeply impressed with the students I was lucky enough to meet.”

Congratulations, Topher!