ORATORICAL CONTEST
Since 1938, The American Legion has sponsored the “National High School Oratorical Scholarship Program, A Constitutional Speech Contest.” The primary purpose is to instill a better knowledge and appreciation of the United States Constitution in high school students. The contest’s objectives also include the development of leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly, and the preparation for the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship.
Scholarship awards of various amounts are given to winning students at each level of the contest (local post, district, area, state, and national). Scholarship awards at the National Finals are $18,000 for 1st Place, $16,000 for 2nd Place, and $14,000 for 3rd Place. Each State winner who participates in the first round of Nationals receives $1,500. These scholarship awards may be used to attend any college or university in the U.S.A.
The contest moves on to the California State level in Clovis, CA on March 3, and finally to the National Finals in Indianapolis, Indiana on April 12-14, 2019.
Students are eligible if they are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents of the U.S., and are students under 20 years of age who are enrolled in a high school or junior high school (public, parochial, military, private or home school), commencing with grade 9 and ending with grade 12.
The student contestant writes a speech, but the student presents it as a “Prepared Oration”(without the written text or any notes). The topic is on some aspect of the Constitution of the United States, which the student chooses, with emphasis on the duties and obligations of a citizen to our government (8 minutes minimum to 10 minutes maximum).
Later that same day, after a drawing of one of several constitutional topics, each contestant gives another speech (3 to 5 minutes) on that one “Assigned Topic”. All speeches (both the Prepared Oration and the Assigned Topic Oration) will be made without any text, notes or other aids.
If you have any questions, please call or email:
Kevin Niles
Chair of the Oratorical Committee
American Legion Post 283, Pacific Palisades
Office: 310-454-0527
Email: Kevinpost283@gmail.com
