Oratorical Scholarship Program

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. The 70-year-old program presents 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 president candidate Alan Keyes and CNN anchor Lou Dobbs.

Eligibility

High school students under age 20 are eligible. Competition begins at the post level and advances to a state competition. Legion department representatives certify one winner per state 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.

Topic & Focus

Speaking subjects must be on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with some emphasis on the duties and obligations of citizens to our government. Speeches are eight to ten minutes long; three- to five-minute speeches on an assigned topic are also part of the contest.

Scholarships

Young orators earn some of the most generous college scholarships available to high school students. Over $138,000 in scholarships can be awarded each year. The overall national contest winner gets an $18,000 scholarship. Second place takes home $16,000, and third gets $14,000. Each department (state) winner who is certified into and participates in the national contest's first round receives a $1,500 scholarship. Those who advance past the first round receive an additional $1,500 scholarship. The American Legion's National Organization awards the scholarships, which can be used at any college or university in the United States.

Scholarship awards are presented to the three finalists in the Final Round of the National contest as follows:

• 1^st place—$18,000
• 2^nd place—$16,000
• 3^rd 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.

The scholarships awarded by the National Organization of The American Legion to the three finalists, to the Department winners, and to the first round winners who are eliminated during the second round of competition may be used to attend any college or university in the United States. Funds for the scholarships awarded by the National Organization are provided by The American Legion Life Insurance Fund.

A contestant must give both their Prepared Oration and the Assigned Topic Discourse in order to receive the scholarship moneys they are entitled to.

In addition to the scholarships awarded by the National Organization, there are several hundred scholarships awarded at the discretion of the intermediate organizations, to participants at Post, District or County, and Department levels of competition.

Department Contests

Arrangements for contests leading to the Department Finals shall be the responsibility of each Department (State) organization of The American Legion. For those levels of competition prior to the Department Finals, the rules and regulations set forth in this brochure are not mandatory - they are offered as a guideline. However, all Department Finals Contests shall conform with National Contest procedures, rules and regulations.

A winner certified to the National Americanism and Children & Youth Division of The American Legion by a Department which did not conduct its final competition in conformity with the rules and regulations as set forth therein may, in the judgment of the Director, Americanism and Children & Youth Division, or his representative, be disqualified from competition in the National Contest.

Each Department may certify one (1) 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. A Department First runner-up accepted into National Competition will be entitled to all National awards, entitlements and compensation that the Department Winner would have received had he/she participated at that level.

Eligibility

Eligible participants in the contest shall be citizens of or lawful permanent residents of the United States.

All contestants must be bona fide students herein described as any student under the age of twenty (20) years on the date of the National Contest who is presently enrolled in a high school or junior high school (public, parochial, military, private or state accredited home school) in which the curriculum of said high school is considered to be of high school level, commencing with grade nine (9) and terminating with grade twelve (12). Students must be enrolled in high school or junior high school during the time of participation at any level of the contest.

Contestants must either be legally domiciled within or attend an educational institution within the Department (State) that they enter competition. Contestants can enter competition through only one Department.

The three finalists of the National Contest will be ineligible for further participation at any level.