“A constitutional speech contest”
The American Legion Oratorical Contest exists to develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution among high school students. Since 1938, the program has presented participants with an academic speaking challenge that teaches important leadership qualities, the history of our nation’s laws, the ability to think and speak clearly, and an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship. The program has featured numerous politicians and prominent contestants over the years, including former presidential candidate Alan Keyes, national television commentator and talk radio host Lou Dobbs, and former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.
Young orators earn some of the most generous college scholarships available to high school students. Over $203,500 in scholarships can be awarded each year. The overall national contest winner gets a $25,000 scholarship. Second place takes home $22,500, and third gets $20,000. Each department (state) winner who is certified into and participates in the national contest’s first round receives a $2,000 scholarship. Those who advance past the first round receive an additional $2,000 scholarship. The American Legion’s National Organization awards the scholarships, which can be used at any college or university in the United States.
High school students under age 20 are eligible to compete and can return to compete again in succeeding years until graduation or age 20 is reached. This competition begins at the post level usually in early December. In the Department of New York competition – students selected by our Yorktown American Legion Post #1009 compete in the Westchester County contest in mid-December with other students from Posts in the county. Winners of this contest advance to the District 1 and 9 contest and compete against the county winners from the Bronx, Manhattan, Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, and Orange counties. Winners from that contest advance to the Department (state) competition. The Department of New York American Legion representatives certify one winner to the national contest, where department winners compete against each other in two speaking rounds. The contest caps off with a final round that decides the three top finishers.
Students may choose the subject of their first speech themselves. This speech must be eight to ten minutes long on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with some emphasis on the duties and obligations of citizens to our government. The second round of the competition consists of three to five minute speeches on an assigned topic that is chosen from a list of four topics students can prepare from beforehand. This second speech subject is chosen at random before the 2nd round of competition begins. Students must be prepared to speak on each of the 4 subjects for the time period in order to be able to switch to that subject and present a speech on it.
Students can learn the speech topics for the second round of the Oratorical Contest and get more information on the program by clicking on the button below.