South Jersey Student Impresses In Oratorical Contest
ERIAL, NJ (CBS) - A South Jersey high school senior's views on the Constitution have already earned her a nice chunk of change for college, and there could be more to come.
Marisa Palmer, 18, of Timber Creek Regional High School, resisted the tendency among seniors to coast. She entered the American Legion Oratorical Contest, with the subject matter being the Constitution, and developed a talk on three ways people have pressured it to adapt.
"The Civil Rights movement that began in the 1960's and the women's suffrage movement and also tie that in to the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, how it's repealed and everything, so I just tied all those aspects together," Palmer said.
She impressed judges in Trenton so she won the New Jersey division, good for over $5,000 in scholarships. Next, the Nationals in Indianapolis in mid-April against the winners of other state and even international competitions, with a bigger prize. Palmer figures she'll kick up her practice schedule to four or five days a week to get ready.
Reported by John Ostapkovich, KYW Newsradio
