The American Legion’s
High School Oratorical "Scholarship" Contest
The American Legion ‘Flanders Field’ Post BE02 announces its Oratorical Scholarship Contest to be held on:
DATE: Saturday, 24 February 2024
LOCATION: TBD
Purpose: The purpose of the American Legion’s 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. 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.
Eligibility
Eligible participants in The American Legion National High School Oratorical 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 American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest.
The three finalists of the National Contest will be ineligible for further participation at any level.
Flanders Field Post BE02 Contest (24 Febraury 2024): Contestants of the American Legion Flanders Field Post BE02 contest win the following:
US Students
Department of France Contest: (xx March 2024) The Department of France level contestant has the opportunity to win one of the following:
Scholarship awards are presented to the three finalists in the Final Round of the National contest as follows:
Each Department (state) winner who is certified into and participates in the first round of the National Contest will receive a $2,000 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 $2,000 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 at 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.
The Oration
The subject to be used for the Prepared Oration in the Oratorical Contest must be on some phase of the Constitution of the United States which will give emphasis to the attendant 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 Oration must be at least 8 minutes and no more than 10 minutes.
Contestants may have in their possession a copy of their Prepared Oration in the First Holding Room. They may consult the copy of their Prepared Oration, until they exit the holding room in order to begin the contest, at which time the copy of the Prepared Oration will be surrendered to the contest official who is monitoring the First Holding Room.
In the Prepared Oration, as well as in the Assigned Topic Discourse, quotations must be indicated as such. Where quotations are more than ten words in length, the author’s name must be given in the manuscript and cited orally.
Assigned Topic
The Assigned Topic Discourse must not consume less than three (3) minutes or more than five (5) minutes for delivery. The purpose of the Assigned Topic Discourse 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 Assigned Topic shall be drawn by the contest official in full view of the audience immediately before the last speaker begins delivery of his/her Prepared Oration and will be made known to the audience and each contestant approximately five (5) minutes prior to the time of delivery. The topic will be on some phase of the Constitution of the United States, selected from Articles and Sections as listed under Assigned Topics for the current year’s contest.
All contestants at each contest level are required to speak in the English language on the same Assigned Topic.
A list of the assigned topics will be given to the contestants as soon as they are made available on the www.legion.org website.
Travel Expenses: The National Organization of The American Legion will pay the travel and lodging expenses of Department Winners and their chaperones to the National Contest. All contestants must be accompanied by a chaperone over 21 years of age.
The National Organization of The American Legion will not assume liability for personal injury, property damage or loss sustained by any contestant or chaperone en route to or from the contest; however, The American Legion does carry a nominal group accident insurance policy on contestants certified into the National competition. Contestants will travel by an air carrier selected by The American Legion.
What to Wear: Uniforms are not permitted. Appropriate business attire is required by all contestants. Contestants are not permitted to wear awards and medals from previous competition.
High School Oratorical "Scholarship" Contest
The American Legion ‘Flanders Field’ Post BE02 announces its Oratorical Scholarship Contest to be held on:
DATE: Saturday, 24 February 2024
LOCATION: TBD
Purpose: The purpose of the American Legion’s 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. 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.
Eligibility
Eligible participants in The American Legion National High School Oratorical 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 American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest.
The three finalists of the National Contest will be ineligible for further participation at any level.
Flanders Field Post BE02 Contest (24 Febraury 2024): Contestants of the American Legion Flanders Field Post BE02 contest win the following:
US Students
- 1st Place: $250.00. The1st place winner also advances to the Department of France competition.
- 2nd Place: $100.00. The 2nd place winner may also compete at the Department of France in the event the 1st place contestant cannot make it to The Department competition.
- 3rd Place: $50
Department of France Contest: (xx March 2024) The Department of France level contestant has the opportunity to win one of the following:
- 1st Place: $1000.00. The winner will be sent to the National Finals Contest
- 2nd Place: $750.00
- 3rd Place: $500.00
Scholarship awards are presented to the three finalists in the Final Round of the National contest as follows:
- 1st Place -- $25,000
- 2nd place -- $22,500
- 3rd place -- $20,000
Each Department (state) winner who is certified into and participates in the first round of the National Contest will receive a $2,000 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 $2,000 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 at 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.
The Oration
The subject to be used for the Prepared Oration in the Oratorical Contest must be on some phase of the Constitution of the United States which will give emphasis to the attendant 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 Oration must be at least 8 minutes and no more than 10 minutes.
Contestants may have in their possession a copy of their Prepared Oration in the First Holding Room. They may consult the copy of their Prepared Oration, until they exit the holding room in order to begin the contest, at which time the copy of the Prepared Oration will be surrendered to the contest official who is monitoring the First Holding Room.
In the Prepared Oration, as well as in the Assigned Topic Discourse, quotations must be indicated as such. Where quotations are more than ten words in length, the author’s name must be given in the manuscript and cited orally.
Assigned Topic
The Assigned Topic Discourse must not consume less than three (3) minutes or more than five (5) minutes for delivery. The purpose of the Assigned Topic Discourse 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 Assigned Topic shall be drawn by the contest official in full view of the audience immediately before the last speaker begins delivery of his/her Prepared Oration and will be made known to the audience and each contestant approximately five (5) minutes prior to the time of delivery. The topic will be on some phase of the Constitution of the United States, selected from Articles and Sections as listed under Assigned Topics for the current year’s contest.
All contestants at each contest level are required to speak in the English language on the same Assigned Topic.
A list of the assigned topics will be given to the contestants as soon as they are made available on the www.legion.org website.
Travel Expenses: The National Organization of The American Legion will pay the travel and lodging expenses of Department Winners and their chaperones to the National Contest. All contestants must be accompanied by a chaperone over 21 years of age.
The National Organization of The American Legion will not assume liability for personal injury, property damage or loss sustained by any contestant or chaperone en route to or from the contest; however, The American Legion does carry a nominal group accident insurance policy on contestants certified into the National competition. Contestants will travel by an air carrier selected by The American Legion.
What to Wear: Uniforms are not permitted. Appropriate business attire is required by all contestants. Contestants are not permitted to wear awards and medals from previous competition.