Four James Logan High School Students Win National Speech/Debate Competition

Taron Grizzell, Karen Joshi, Cameron Steele, and Bilal Malik of James Logan High School won national championships at the Lincoln Financial Group®/National Forensic League National Speech Tournament in Wichita, Kansas last week. Grizzell and Joshi each won a $5,000 college scholarship from Lincoln Financial Group of Philadelphia, Penn. for their first place accomplishment in Duo Interpretation of Literature; Steele won first place and a $5,000 college scholarship in the Humorous Interpretation of Literature division; and Malik earned the second place title and a $4,000 college scholarship in the Lincoln Financial Group Lincoln-Douglas Debate. More than 3,000 students from across the nation competed in the week-long tournament from June 18 - 22 in Witchita, Kansas. Over 91,000 students from nearly 2,800 high schools nationwide competed throughout the 2006 - 2007 school year to qualify for the annual national tournament. "Being able to effectively communicate is the key to success,” noted Garry Spence, vice president of Regional Broker and Consultant Sales of Lincoln Employer Markets, a division of Lincoln Financial Group. "Lincoln Financial supports National Forensic League because it teaches students like Taron, Karen, Cameron, and Bilal the communications skills they will carry with them their entire lives.” These stellar orators were treated to a piece of history during the competition. On Friday, June 22, Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by Richard "Fritz” Klein, one of the foremost Lincoln actors of today, gave the keynote speech and spoke on the importance of oratory skills and encouraged participants to use these skills to positively influence moral and social issues. He also delivered a rendition of the Gettysburg address. The Lincoln Financial Group®/National Forensic League National Speech Tournament is an annual competition organized and run by the National Forensic League and sponsored by Lincoln Financial Group. The National Forensic League is a non-partisan, not-for-profit educational honorary society based in Ripon, Wis. Alumni include Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Supreme Court Justice Steven Breyer, Attorney General Janet Reno, Senators Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) and William Frist (R-Tenn.), television personality Jane Pauley, media mogul Ted Turner, C-Span president Brian Lamb, and television and screen stars Oprah Winfrey, Kelsey Grammer, James Dean, Bette Midler, and Shelley Long. Lincoln Financial Group is the national sponsor of the National Forensic League’s national tournament and the Lincoln Financial Group® Refreshers at many of the NFL district tournaments across the country. Lincoln Financial Group has been a sponsor of the National Forensic League since 1994. About Lincoln Financial Group Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC) and its affiliates. With headquarters in Philadelphia, the companies of Lincoln Financial Group had assets under management of $237 billion as of March 31, 2007. Lincoln Financial Group recognizes the changing financial security needs of today’s retirees as well as those still in the workforce, and focuses its products and services on making retirement income security a reality for its clients. Specifically, through its affiliated companies, Lincoln Financial Group offers: annuities; individual life insurance; group life, disability, and dental insurance; 401(k) and 403(b) plans; savings plans; mutual Funds; managed accounts; institutional investments; and comprehensive financial planning and advisory services. Affiliates include: Delaware Investments, the marketing name for Delaware Management Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries; Lincoln Financial Media, which owns and operates three television stations, 18 radio stations, and the Lincoln Financial Sports production and syndication business; and Lincoln UK. For more information please visit www.LFG.com. NOTE: Photos are available by request. Please contact Charlotte Heaston at 260 455-5388 or 800 454-6265, Ext. 5388.