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American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest

Direct application

$25,000
3 winners

Eligibility

Education level
High school

About this scholarship

U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents under age 20 enrolled in high school or junior high with coursework at a high school level may compete in this constitutional oratory contest through local American Legion post, district, and department levels.

National finalists receive scholarships of $25,000 for first place, $22,500 for second, and $20,000 for third. Earlier-round winners also earn scholarship awards. Three national-level prizes are awarded.

Prepare an original eight- to ten-minute oration on the U.S. Constitution emphasizing citizens' duties and obligations, plus a three- to five-minute assigned topic discourse. Contest rules and local deadlines are set by each department.

Essay questions

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What else to submit

  • Contestant must be a high school student enrolled in grades 9-12 in a U.S. accredited public, parochial, military, private, or home school (per American Legion rules).
  • Deliver a PREPARED ORATION (spoken speech) on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution emphasizing a citizen's duties and obligations: 'The prepared oration must be the original effort of each contestant
  • Deliver an ASSIGNED TOPIC DISCOURSE (spoken, extemporaneous): 'The assigned topic discourse must not be less than three minutes or more than five minutes for delivery.' The topic is drawn from a publi
  • Both the prepared oration and the assigned topic discourse must be given to receive the award; competition begins at the local (post) level and advances through district/state to nationals.
  • Quotations longer than 10 words must be indicated as such.
  • Deliver an original prepared oration of eight to ten minutes on the U.S. Constitution emphasizing citizens' duties and obligations.
  • Deliver a three- to five-minute assigned-topic discourse.
  • Both speeches are required to receive an award.
  • Competition begins at the local American Legion post level and advances through district, department, and national levels.
  • Quotations longer than ten words must be identified as quotations.
  • Local and department deadlines vary.