PARIS – Marybeth Hoover, student at Oxford Hills Christian Academy, took first place in the American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest at the local level on Jan. 13 at the Maine Veterans Home in South Paris.

Hoover is among other state orators awarded scholarships in elimination rounds. The Legion department finals will be held Feb. 17 in Augusta. National finals will be in Indianapolis, Ind., on April 21 through 23. The department finalists will receive expense-paid trips to the national with a chaperone.

The contest offers students in local communities more than $138,000 in scholarships. To date, more than $3 million in scholarships have been awarded at the national level.

The contest, sponsored since 1938 by the American Legion, is designed to instill a greater knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution in high school students. Other objectives include the development of leadership, the ability to think and speak clearly and the preparation for the acceptance of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship.

Sponsors of the local contest are Post 112 of Oxford, Post 72 of South Paris and Post 82 of Norway.

“Everyone comes away from this oratorical contest a winner. The students are the stepping stone to further education protecting the foundation of freedom that we as Americans cherish,” said local Post Chairman Joe Bernard.