American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest Scholarships
Offered by The American Legion
About this scholarship
The American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest awards substantial college and trade-school scholarships for speeches about the United States Constitution and citizens’ duties. National finalists receive $25,000 for first place, $22,500 for second, or $20,000 for third. Each certified state winner who participates in the first national round receives $2,000, and a first-round winner who advances without reaching the final earns an additional $2,000. Local posts and state departments may offer more awards. Eligible contestants are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, under age 20 on the national contest date, and enrolled in a qualifying grade 9–12 high-school curriculum. Students enter through the department where they live or attend school and may compete through only one department. Competition begins locally and advances through state and national rounds. Contestants prepare an eight- to ten-minute speech on an aspect of the Constitution, emphasizing citizens’ duties and obligations, and deliver a three- to five-minute assigned-topic speech. Notes, prompting, amplification, lecterns, props, uniforms, and electronic data devices are prohibited during competition. Local entry dates differ. The Apply button opens the American Legion’s official information-request form, which routes a student to the correct state contest chair for current instructions and deadlines.
Eligibility
- Be a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States
- Be under age 20 on the date of the national contest
- Be enrolled in a qualifying public, private, parochial, military, or home-school grade 9–12 curriculum during participation
- Enter through the American Legion department where the contestant is legally domiciled or attends school
- Compete through only 1 state department and not be a prior national top-3 finalist
- Prepare and deliver an 8- to 10-minute speech on the U.S. Constitution with emphasis on citizens’ duties and obligations
- Deliver the required 3- to 5-minute assigned-topic speech under contest rules
- Request current local entry instructions and meet the deadline set by the applicable post or state department