SHIELDS TAKES FOURTH IN STATE CONTEST

Kelly Lynn Shields, a senior at Jackson high School, placed fourth in the 66th High School Oratorical State Finals, sponsored by the American Legion.

The competition was held in Jefferson City, Feb. 26. Shields represented the Altentual-Joerns Post # 158 of the American Legion in Jackson. She received a silver medal and a $1,400 scholarship to the college of her choice.

Shields has chosen to apply the scholarship to Orel Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla., where she will be majoring in communications and minoring in government.

The purpose of the oratorical contest is to develop knowledge and appreciation of the United State Constitution, the ability to think and speak clearly and critically and the acceptance of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship.

She was coached by Karen Kight, a former Jackson High School speech teacher and now a speech professor at Southeast Missouri State University. Don Kight, a Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient, was quoted in Shields' speech.

She asked Kight "What made you willing to lay your life on the line?" He responded by saying "This may sound simple, but it was the right thing to do."

The Kights were in the audience -- along with Shields' parents, George and Pam Shields of Jackson, during the competition.