American Legion
Phone: 505/247-0400
Website: http://www.legion.org/
Purpose and Activities: The purpose of the American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest is to develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States on the part of high school students, to develop leadership and the ability to think and speak clearly and intelligently, and to prepare students for the duties and responsibilities, rights, and privileges of American citizenship. Scholarships are awarded to regional winners, to department winners, and to national finalists.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible participants must be citizens of the United States under the age of twenty on the date of the National Finals Contest, who are enrolled in a high school or junior high school (public, private, military, or parochial) at which the curriculum is considered to be of high school level, beginning 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. Finalists at the National Finals Contest are ineligible for further participation at any level. Contestants must give an original prepared oration on some phase of the U.S. Constitution, and an extemporaneous discourse on a topic assigned at the time of the contest.
Application Data: Complete rules, regulations, and application data are provided to high school speech instructors by the local American Legion. Contact your high school speech teacher. More information and guidelines are available via the Web site listed above.
