Williston Park, December 21, 2025

The Nassau County Oratorical Competition was held on Saturday, December 21, 2024 at Williston Post 144.  This year's event allowed four high school students to compete for two slots to advance to the District Final Competition to be held on January 11, 2025 at Levittown Post 1711.  Two of our contestants had competed at last year's competition, and two students were first-time entrants.  When the competition ended, our two finalists were chosen for the next level competition. 

The second place winner was Abigail Hassett, a sophomore at Kellenberg Memorial High School in Uniondale who competed this year for her first time.  Ms. Hassett is extremely active at Kellenberg in many clubs and activities, and really showed her knowledge of our Constitution. She is granddaughter to Past County Commander John Hassett, Sr., and has been a junior member of the Auxiliary at Malverne Post 44 since she was not much more than a toddler.

First place was earned by Katherine Mazaroski, a junior at Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead, and was one of two finalists at last year's Nassau County competition. She failed to move forward at the District competition, and returned this year for another try.  She is also quite active with speech, debate and mock trial events and in science research.  She leads the Carle Place Junior American Legion Auxiliary, and hopes to attend a service academy and serve in the military.

These young folks are fine examples of American youth who exemplify the principles of the American Legion Family.  We hope to have additional success stories posted here following the District Competition in a few weeks.  Congratulation to our two contestants!