Raised in north Idaho, Hannah Joy (Coad) Bodenhamer graduated from Classical Christian Academy in 2011 and participated in the American Legion Oratorical Contest during her sophomore year of high school. Bodenhamer is currently working as a prosecutor for the Commonwealth of Virginia, a career she hadn’t envisioned for herself until after she graduated Grove City College in Pennsylvania where she majored in biochemistry and Boise State where she earned a Master’s in Business Administration. “Then I went to law school at Liberty University School of Law in Virginia and that’s where I stayed, but I do love Idaho, it’s where I grew up,” she shared. “Those experiences in high school made me realize that I did enjoy speaking in front of people.”
She said her experience with the Legion’s oratorical contest was so enjoyable and memorable she would have participated more than once if she hadn’t served as a page in Washington, D.C. during the summer leading up to her junior year and a page in Boise, Idaho, during her senior year of high school. “It was very educational on multiple levels. The great thing about the oratorical contest is the fact that they do one longer speech which you practice, but also a shorter presentation that is randomly drawn for a more impromptu experience,” she stated. “I think the contest is structured really well.”
She explained that the process was formative in learning how to speak and be comfortable in front of people and how to think on your feet. “The topic of the Constitution is so good for younger people to learn constitutional values.”
Bodenhamer advanced to the national round after winning first place in the local, regional, and state competitions. The Legion paid for all her travels and she was awarded scholarships at each level. “One of my favorite parts of the competition was getting to travel [and] getting to meet other students.”
“It was such a great experience,” shared Bodenhamer about participating at the national level. “I got to meet a lot of students from every state. It’s just inspiring, when you’re in highschool, to be around students who are trying to better themselves and trying to learn.”
She also shared that it was very beneficial on college application to include her participation in the Legion’s oratorical contest. Bodenhamer shared that her mother Carolin Coad is a college and career counselor who highly recommends students participate in the Legion’s contest, as well as ones hosted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Bodenhamer encourages students to not be afraid of the work that goes into practicing speeches and competing in the contests. “It’s so educational and you will get so much out of it,” assures Bodenhamer. She really enjoyed the aspect of connecting with the older generation of the American Legion as a young person. “This is so important because as high school student you just aren’t around that generation, unless you’re around your grandparents.”
While in high school, Hannah enjoyed learning more about legislative work as a House Page at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise and a Senate Page in Washington, D.C. Left: House Page, Center: Idaho State Capitol, Right: Senate Page.
“Go for it! Put forth the time and the effort and practice,” she encourages. “You can’t underestimate the benefit of practicing. Practicing pays off.” The national winner the year Bodenhamer competed was Andrew Dykstal, an Indiana high school senior who practiced his speech every single day. “That consistency made it seem so effortless…so natural…so polished.”
Even though 15 years have passed, Bodenhamer still remembers Dykstal’s opening story about learning to ride a bike growing up. “You have to be balanced on the bike, but once you’re balanced it functions perfectly. It was his analogy for the various branches of government, that as long as it’s balanced, it functions smoothly.”
“I am so grateful for the opportunity to have participated in the contest,” shared Bodenhamer. “It was so formative to what I ended up doing as a career. The experience shaped who I was as a person more than I even realized…having that training really made all the difference and it helped solidify who I was as a younger person.”
All high school students in north Idaho, whether public, private, or home schooled, are invited to compete in the 2025 American Legion Oratorical Contest. Information can be found at www.legion.org/oratorical and interested students should to email TopNuke@icloud.com for a contest application.
