GSSM senior places first in Quadrant American Legion Oratorical Scholarship Program
The Hartsville-based Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) announced that senior David Bullock from Myrtle Beach placed first in the Quadrant American Legion Oratorical Scholarship Program in Sumter Feb. 20. The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program was created to aid high school students in the advancement of a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States. Other intentions of the contest include the development of leadership skills, the ability to think and speak clearly and logically, and the preparation for acceptance of the duties and responsibilities, the rights, and privileges of American citizenship. “The American Legion Oratorical Scholarship competition is a one-of-a-kind program that allowed me to further dwell into my passions toward government and politics,” said Bullock. “My research on the assigned topic ‘citizens’ duties and obligations to our U.S. Constitution’ led me to further appreciate the basic rights that our constitution provides and recognize how those rights are fundamental to the core of American society.” In this scholarship program, Bullock presented a nine-minute speech on the U.S. Constitution and a three-minute speech on the 22nd Amendment in front of a select group of judges. This annual Constitutional Speech contest provides college scholarships at the Quadrant, State, and National levels. “David has a long history of participation in organizations that have helped hone his public speaking skills. As an avid participant in Model United Nations and Mock Trial, and with a strong interest in government/economics/law at the collegiate level; it was a perfect match for him to compete in the American Legion Department of South Carolina H.W. Maness High School Oratorical Scholarship program,” said GSSM college counselor Jacob Sintich. “After competing in the local competition at the American Legion Post 53 in Hartsville, David continued to fine tune and practice his speech ahead of the regional (quadrant) level competition in Sumter. David’s oratorical skill was on display in the regional competition, and we are proud to have David represent The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics at the state level competition in Columbia.”
