Litchfield High School senior Hazel Chvatal won the District 7 American Legion Oratorical Contest Sunday.
Chvatal earned a $700 scholarship and the opportunity to advance to represent District 7 in the State/Department Oratorical Contest later this month. Top finishers in the state/department contest advance to the national contest, where they compete for a top prize of a $25,000 scholarship.
Landon Muonio of Watkins, a senior at Eden Valley-Watkins High school, earned second place and a $500 scholarship.
Chairman Rueben Nathe of Litchfield conducted the Seventh District contest, assisted by District Commander Dean Knutson of Marshall, Karen Welander of New London, David Manson of Spicer, Victor Gades of Morris and Gaylee Davenport of Spicer, as well as Litchfield Post 104 volunteers.
The Minnesota State contest will be Saturday Feb. 27, and will be hosted by the Osseo and Anoka American Legion posts. Top finisher in the state contest receives a $1,500 scholarship, second place $1,000 third $700 and fourth $500.
The national contest will be April 9-11 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Chvatal advanced to the District 7 contest by winning the Nelsan-Horton Post 104 contest on Feb. 3. She is the daughter of Robert and Kristi Chvatal of Litchfield. She participates in band, tennis and student council at school, and her hobbies include drawing and playing piano.
Megan Nothnagel, daughter of Keith and Dana Nothnagel of Litchfield, finished second locally. The LHS senior's hobbies include fishing, painting and hiking, and she also works at the Natural Food Co-op in Litchfield.
Third-place finisher was Travis Crusoe, a sophomore at LHS and the son of Joe and Amy Crusoe. He involved in FFA, and his hobbies include reading.
Local oratorical contest committee members included Tom Westrum, Marv Buschette, Hugh Wagner, Pat Andrews, Brenda Rick of the Legion Auxiliary and a Litchfield Middle School teacher, LHS counselor Jolene Mueller and teacher Katie Savage.
