The American Legion
High School Oratorical Scholarship Program - "A Constitutional Speech Contest"
This contest is for students who Welcome Learning. For the students who looks for an academic challenge and an opportunity to gain scholarship monies. The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program is a natural fit. Students learn valuable information about our country’s Constitution in a contest that has been held by The American Legion for more than 70 years.
The main purpose of The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program is to develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States on the part of high school students. Other objectives of the contest include the development of leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly and intelligently, and the preparation for acceptance of the duties and responsibilities, the rights and privileges of American citizenship.
Scholarship awards are presented to the three finalists in the Final Round of the National Contest as follows: 1st Place-$18,000; 2nd Place-$16.000; 3rd Place-$14,000. Each Department (State) winner who is certified into and participates in the first round of the National Contest will receive a $1,500 scholarship. Each first round winner who advances to and participates in the second round, but does not advance to the Final Round, will receive an additional $1,500 scholarship to pursue education beyond high school.
Who is eligible to participate?
You are eligible to participate in The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program if you are a citizen or a lawful resident of the United States. Further, all contestants must be bona fide students under the age of 20 years on the date of the National Contest and must be enrolled in a high school or junior high (public, parochial, military, private or state accredited home school) in which the curriculum of the high school is considered to be of high school level, commencing with grade nine and terminating with grade twelve. Students must be enrolled in high school or junior high school during the time of participation at any level of the contest.
What topics do contestants speak on?
The Prepared Oration. The subject to be used to be used for the Prepare Oration of the contest must be on some aspect of the Constitution of the United States with emphasis on the duties and obligations of a citizen to our government. The same subject and oration used in the Department Contest must be used in the National Contest.
The prepared oration must be the original effort of each contestant and must not take up less than eight minutes or more than ten minutes for delivery. It must be delivered in the English language.
Assigned Topic. The purpose of the Assigned Topic is to test the speaker’s knowledge of the subject, the extent of his or her research, and the ability to discuss the topic as related to the basic principles of government under the Constitution. The topic will be on some phase of the Constitution of the United States.
The assigned topic must take no less than three minutes and must not exceed five minutes for time of delivery. Each year, the list of Assigned Topics will be made available prior to the contest and posted on the Legion web site at www.legion.org.
Department Contest Get Students Started.
Each Department (State) organization of The American Legion may certify one contestant into the National Contest. If for any reason the Department Winner is unable to compete in the National Contest, the Department first runner-up may be substituted following approval by The American Legion’s National Americanism Commission.
For information about the Oratorical Contest in Oklahoma, contact Oklahoma Department of The American Legion at (405) 525-3511 or 1-800-281-7557; or contact Ed Lowe, State Oratorical Chairman at (580) 255-7778.
Our state has had four (4) national winners and three (3) third place winners since 1938 when the program was started. In addition, Oklahoma has had seven (7) semi-finalist. There is much to be gained by those who participate but are not contest winners. Preparation for acceptance of the duties and responsibilities, and the rights and privileges of American citizenship is enhanced even for those who interact only as members of the contest audience at different levels.
Dates for the 2012-2013 contest:
Post contests by Dec. 15, 2012
Bi-Districts by Jan. 15, 2013
Districts by Jan. 26, 2013
East/West Sectional Feb. 9, 2013
State Contest will be in Duncan, Ok on Feb. 23, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. Location is: First United Methodist Church; 2300 N. Country Club Road, Duncan, Oklahoma 73533
Please send me your complete contact information: Full Name; Address; Phone; Email; Parent(s) Name; The Post Number that is sponsoring you with the Commanders Name. I need this information no later than February 10, 2013. You can email to me at: rwillis22@cox.net
www.legion.org/programs/youthprograms/oratorical