Leah Chaney wins Battle of the Flowers oratorical contest

SAN MARCOS – Leah Chaney, a communication studies major at Texas State University-San Marcos, beat out 12 other Texas college students to win the 79th Annual Battle of Flowers Oratorical Contest held February 27.

Chaney, a senior from Portland, won a cash award of $2000 and will deliver her speech to the Battle of Flowers Luncheon Thursday, April 22 during Fiesta Week in San Antonio. Chaney will also ride in the Battle of Flowers Parade on Friday, April 23.

The theme of this year’s contest was “Don't Mess with Texas Women: Heroines of Early Texas.” Chaney’s topic was “Sally Skull: One Texas Woman You Don’t Want to Mess With.”

The Oratorical Contest is a platform speech contest open to undergraduate and graduate students who attend Texas colleges and universities. Only the first 15 eligible entrees are accepted for the competition. Monetary prizes of $2000, $1000, $750, $500 and $300 were awarded to the first through fifth place winners. The winning speech will be taped and broadcast by KLRN TV. Copies of the top three winning speeches will be given to the Institute of Texan Cultures Library, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library at the Alamo, and the San Antonio Public Library.