Shelley Elder judges oratory competition for second year

Meredith Johns, a senior at Kennesaw Mountain High School in Kennesaw, won first place in the Georgia Area 4 Contest in the 81st Annual U.S. Constitution High School Oratorical Contest. This is the third of four levels in the competition in Georgia. After the state competition, winners will advance to the national competition in April. 

Shelley Elder of Elder Law firm was one of five judges at the competition, held at the American Legion in Acworth on Saturday, Feb. 17. 

Each of the three contestants delivered 8-10 minute speeches on a constitutional topics. Each were then required to speak for three to five minutes on one other assigned topic. 

The winner at this level receives a check for $350. Second-place winner Emmanuel Fortuchang, senior at Sandy Creek High School in, Tyrone, Ga., received $250 and Oscar Resendiz, Jr., tenth grader at Murray County High School in Chatsworth, Ga., received $175 for third place.