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Eric Marshall

TAHLEQUAH, OK – Eric Marshall and Sarah Trammel earned first and second place titles in the oratory competition at the National Indian Education Association conference in Billings, Montana.

The students competed against twenty-four other contestants from all over the United States. Each had to write a five-minute speech on a Native American topic and present it to the five judges.

Eric Marshall, a junior at Sequoyah High School, took first place with his five-minute speech entitled "Burden of Proof" on the complications of diabetes and his grandmother's fight with the disease. Marshall is the son of David and Ervina Marshall of Stilwell. Eric has entered this contest three times and has placed in it every year. He also won first place in the essay contest sponsored by the NASA organization at Northeastern State University.

Sarah Trammel

Sarah Trammel is a sophomore and entered the contest for the first time. Sarah's speech was about overcoming setbacks and family hardships. This three-minute presentation earned her the second place title. Sarah is the daughter of Kanaiah McKee of Tahlequah. Sarah is a member of the academic, speech and Cherokee Bowl teams.

"We are very proud of Eric and Sarah's accomplishments and want to encourage them and other students to become more aware of preserving their heritage and to speak positively of their awareness to others," said Anthony Pivec, superintendent of Sequoyah High School.

Sequoyah High School "Home of the Indians!"       Sequoyah High School, an Indian boarding school, originated in 1871, when the Cherokee National Council passed an act setting up an orphan asylum to take care of many orphans that came out of the Civil War. Sequoyah High School's approximate 300 enrollment represents 42 tribes and 14 different states. Students are eligible to attend if they are members of federally recognized Indian tribes or one-fourth blood descendants of such members.