A Constitutional Speech Contest
The 2023 Department High School Oratorical Scholarship
Contest will be held on March 4, 2023 at 1PM in the
Historic Old Courthouse on 51 South University Avenue,
Provo, Utah.
The 2022 Department Oratorical Contest was held earlier
this year on Saturday March 12th. The winner was Emma
Fox from Spanish Fork High School. The runner-up was
Zackery Bytheway from Davis High School.
About the Oratorical Contest
The American Legion Oratorical Contest exists to develop
deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution
among high school students: 9-12 grades. Since 1938, the
program has presented 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, CNN anchor Lou Dobbs, and former Vice President
Mike Pence. Young orators earn some of the most generous
college scholarships available to high school students.
This year the scholarship award for the first place national
oratorical contest winner will increase to $25,000; the second
place national oratorical contest winner will increase to $22,500;
and the third place national oratorical contest winner increase to
$20,000, for a total of $203,500 in scholarships awarded for the
annual national oratorical contest of The American Legion.
The American Legion’s National Organization awards the
scholarships, which can be used at any college or university in
the United States. 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. 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 10 minutes
long; three- to five-minute speeches on an assigned topic also
are part of the contest.
The contest starts at the Post level and moves up to the
District level. The winners from the districts then go
on to the Department Contest.
• The Utah Oratorical contest will be held in Provo at the
Courthouse starting at 1:00 pm on March 4, 2023.
• Contestants must be there at noon. Click here for Contest
Resources. This site has all the information that a post will
need to run a contest: videos, scripts, briefings, etc. At
department we follow the national procedures and highly
encourage posts and districts to follow suit so all
contestants know what to expect if they make the next level
of competition.
• The winners receive scholarships of $1500 for first place,
$750 for second place, and $500 for third place.
More information about Oratorical can be found at the National
American Legion Site here. And click here are the National
Oratorical Rules.
Utah has a Facebook Oratorical
page: www.facebook.com/utlegionoratorical -Utah
American Legion Oratorical Scholarship Program.
For more information about the Department contest
contact Shiela Heindel, Oratorical Department Chair at
seheindel@gmail.com.