Scholarship Description
The American Legion Oratorical Contest exists to develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution among high school students. 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.
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 ten minutes long; three-to five-minute speeches on an assigned topic also are part of the contest.
Oratorical contest open to students in ninth to twelfth grades of any accredited Arkansas high school.
- The Department of Arkansas First Place Winner – $2,000.00
- Department of Arkansas Second Place Winner – $1,500.00
- Department of Arkansas Third Place Winner – $1,000.00
Eligibility Requirements
- 2.5 Minimum GPA
- Must currently be in high school
- Award is available to U.S. citizens
Application Requirements
- Application form required
- Photograph required
How To Apply
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Report incorrect scholarship informationDonor: American Legion Department of Arkansas
The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, war-time veterans organization, devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is a not-for-profit community-service organization which now numbers nearly 2.3 million members, men and women, in nearly 15,000 American Legion posts worldwide. These posts are organized into 55 departments — one each for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico, and the Philippines. Arkansas was the first Department in the United States to be incorporated.
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