Evening star., 1925-04-25
ORATORY V|CTORS
LEAD AS SCHOLARS
District FinaIists Take Great
! Interest in Literary Work
| and Debating.

The District champions in the ma
tional oratorical contest in Washing
ton are all students who have high
standing enthusiastically and take a
keen interest in the activities of their
respective schools. Literary work
and debating are the most popular ac.
tiVities, so far as the District of Co
lumbia finalists are concerned.
Samuel Levering, II, is a senior in
Western High School. In the contest
last year he was eliminated in the pre-
liminary meeting. but his training
helped him in winning the contest
this year. A native of Carroll County,
Va. he never attended public school
until his second year in high school.
His early education was given to
him by his mother. In addition TO
public speaking, he is interested in
athletics and has won his "W" in
basket ball. Levering intends TO ma
circulate at Cornell after graduating
from Western High School.
This is the first year in the contest
for Warren Magee, 16. a junior at
Mckinley Manual Training School.
He has had previous experience in
public speaking, however, as a mem
Der of the debating team. He is sec
Tetary of the debating club.
Father Is Notable Speaker.
Bradford Abernethy, 16, is a senior
in Central High School. This is his
first year in the national oratoriCal
contest. He is a member of the Cen
trail High School Glee Club. His
father, Rev. w. F.. Abernethy, pastor
of Calvary Baptist Church, was Presi-
dent Harding's pastor and is consid-
cred one of the finest speakers in
Washington. After being graduated
from Central, Abernethy plans TO at
tend Mercersburg Academy for year,
after which he will so to Haverford
College.
Asenath Graves, II. champion ora.
tor of Eastern High School, is in the
national oratorical contest for the sec
ond time this year. Last year she
made a good showing, but did not win
the school championship. To win this
year it was necessary for her to de-
feat last years winner. Ruth Green
wood Besides being an honor stu
dent, she is an assistant editor of the
Easterner, school magazine, and is
q member of thes staff of the Cub, a
paper published by the class in jour
nalism. Miss Graves also is promi-
nent in dramatics. She is senior at
Eastern and will go to college next
Fall.
Girl Wins in First Attempt.
Edith Raphelson, 16, is successful
in being proclaimed the champion ora
tor of Business High School IN her
first year in the contest. She is a
junior. Dramatics and public speak
ing are her principal interests aside
from her school work. She intends
TO go to college after finishing her
high school work.
Raymond Raedy. IS, is a senior in
GonZasa High School He represents
district s, which comprises the pri-
vate and parochial schools of Wash.
ington. He has a high scholastic
standing, is a member of the debating
society and was chosen as a speaker
for the annual debate at Gonzaga.
Robert G. Weaver, IS, Dunbar
High Schools best orator, has main
tanned a high standard Of scholarship
since he entered Dunbar High School
in 1921. He is an officer in the cadet
corps. After being graduated from
high school he plans to enter Har-
ward University.
Manning Johnson, IS, the winner at
Armstrong High School, is an athlete
as well as an orator. He is a mem.
ber of the schools foot ball team
In addition, he is a sergeant in the
cadets. In winning the school cham,
picnship this year he defeated last
years champion, Rozier Gaddis.